Primary results: A contest of 2 Michaels

Published 5:00 pm Wednesday, June 8, 2022

It’s a contest of two Michaels after Tuesday’s 3rd District Congressional primary.

Republican incumbent Michael Guest will face off again against challenger Michael Cassidy for the U.S. House seat representing 23 counties.

Wednesday, Cassidy held the slight edge over Guest with 47.5 percent to 46.9 percent of the meager voter turnout.

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Cassidy won 12 counties, with the biggest wins in Pike (58 percent), Newton (56 percent), Clarke (54 percent) and Walthall (53 percent), topped by his home county of Lauderdale (65 percent).

Guest took the other 11 counties, with his biggest wins in his home county of Rankin (54 percent), Scott (59 percent) and Hinds (61 percent).

A candidate needed 50 percent of the vote plus one in order to walk away the clear winner and avoid a runoff. As it stands, a runoff will take place June 28 between the two Michaels.

This was the first election under the new Congressional maps following the most recent redistricting. In Lincoln County, Guest marginally outperformed Cassidy, garnering 1,083 votes to the newcomer’s 1,006, or 47.7 percent to 44.3 percent.

Only 2,271 votes were cast in the county, including absentee ballots, amounting to only 10.77 percent of eligible voters.

Click here for breakdowns by Lincoln County polling places.