Incumbent Republican Steve Rushing was reelected Tuesday to his fifth term as Lincoln County Sheriff with nearly 50 percent of the vote.

First elected in 2006, Rushing previously said he was humbled by the voters repeatedly putting him back in office, and believed it was “indicative of the overall success of the sheriff’s office.” He has been with the sheriff’s office for more than 27 years.

“I’m totally humbled by this,” Rushing said after the final results were announced in the Lincoln County Circuit Court courtroom. “I started out 17 years ago with the intent to do the best we could for our county. It’s been rough, but the county, the people showed up. I guess they believed in what we were doing.”

Rushing said he knows not everyone agrees on issues and how to do things, but his goal has always been to do what’s best overall.

“My goal for the next four years is to learn from what people have said this election, and to do what’s helpful for the county,” Rushing said. “I’m honored.”

Rushing is a graduate of West Lincoln Attendance Center, Copiah-Lincoln Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi, with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He is a graduate of the National Sheriff’s Institute, NSI Jail Administration Course/FBI Academy in Quantico, Mississippi Law Enforcement Training Academy, and Mississippi Law Enforcement Command College. He is member of the National Sheriff’s Association, Mississippi Sheriff’s Association, FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association, FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force for Mississippi, Mississippi Triad, Mississippi Crime Stoppers, MSA Legislative Committee, and Mississippi Department of Corrections Commission Selection Committee.

Rushing and his wife Cassandra have two sons, a daughter and one grandson.