Voting was slow and steady through primary day in Lauderdale County, but Tuesday ended with at least one party.

Just after 9:30 p.m., supporters of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Howard Sherman, a Lauderdale County resident, gathered at Weidmann’s in Meridian celebrated the announcement of a June 26 runoff against David Baria.

Sherman is the husband of film and TV actress Sela Ward.

“There’s massive talent in this state, we just have the wrong people running it,” Sherman said at Weidmann’s before the runoff pairing was decided. “… The state has made a statement that huge tens of thousands of people want change. They want a new coach. They’re not happy with the way things are going.”

Sherman received 1,465 votes in Lauderdale County to Omeria Scott’s 542 and David Baria’s 280.

Voters on Tuesday chose candidates for U.S. Senate races and candidates for the 3rd Congressional District.

Michael Guest was the front runner in a GOP primary, leading Whit Hughes, Perry Parker, Sally Doty, Morgan Dunn and Katherine “Bitzi” Tate. Guest and Hughes will compete in a runoff.

Guest was the leading vote getter in Lauderdale County with 1,724 votes followed by Hughes, 1,566; Dunn, 1,064; Parker, 920; Doty, 488; and Tate, 59.

The GOP winner will run against Democratic candidate Michael Ted Evans, of Kemper County, who defeated Michael Aycox, of Newton County. Evans had 1,655 votes in Lauderdale County to Aycox’s 698.

In the GOP Senate primary, incumbent Roger Wicker defeated Richard Boyanton. He will face off against the winner of the June 26 runoff in November.

Traffic at polling stations was slow but steady on Tuesday.

As of 8:15 a.m. only three people had voted at the Lauderdale County Annex Building. But by midday, the number of voters had increased, particularly at Trinity Presbyterian Church on Poplar Springs Drive.

“It’s our civic duty, one of the few responsibilities we have as Mississippians,” said Jon Van Drunen of Meridian, who said he voted for Republican congressional candidate Perry Parker and Senate incumbent Roger Wicker.

Trudy Nix of Meridian said she votes every election cycle because she’s been doing it since she was 18 years old.

“You just don’t pass that up, because in a lot of countries you can’t vote,” Nix said.

Shayne Garrett, also of Meridian, said voting is her duty.

“You can’t complain about the government if you don’t choose who you want to be in office,” Garrett said.

A runoff will be held on June 26. A runoff is required between the top two candidates unless one candidate gets a majority of all voters.