Candidates qualify for 2026 primary elections

Published 3:57 pm Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Lauderdale County voters will join fellow Mississippians at the polls this year in electing candidates to represent them on the federal level in Washington D. C. On the ballot are seats for each of the state’s four congressional districts, as well as one of two seats in the U.S. Senate.

The qualification deadline to run in the 2026 primary elections was 5 p.m. Friday, Dec 26, and both the Mississippi Republican Party and Mississippi Democratic Party have released names of those who met the requirements.

For the Third Congressional District, incumbent Rep. Michael Guest has qualified as the lone Republican in the race. Guest, a former district attorney, has represented the district since 2018.

On the Democratic ticket, Michael A. Chiaradio is also running unopposed in the primary election. A native of Teaneck, New Jersey, Chiaradio is a regenerative farmer, investor, entrepreneur and professional baseball player, according to his campaign website.

With no primary challengers, both candidates will move on to the general election set for Nov. 3.

Also qualifying to run for House of Representatives are:

District 1

Trent Kelly — R  (incumbent)

Cliff Johnson —D

Kelvin Buck — D

District 2

Bennie Thompson — D (incumbent)

Evan Littleton Turnage — D

Pertis Herman Williams III — D

Ron Eller — R

Kevin Wilson — R

District 4

Mike Ezell — R (incumbent)

Sawyer Walters — R

Jeffery Hulum III — D

D. Ryan Grover — D

Paul James Blackman — D

Also on the 2026 ballot, Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith is up for reelection and is running for another six-year term. Challenging her are Republican challenger Sarah Adlakha and Democrat candidates Scott Colom, Priscilla W. Till and Albert R. Littel.

The primary elections for both House and Senate races will be held March 10, with a runoff date of April 7 if needed.

Lauderdale County residents can also expect a special election in 2026 to choose a Justice Court Judge District 2. The seat belonged to Judge Ondray Harris Sr. who died in November in a boating accident.