Mississippi losers in runoff bow out; special election set

The two losers in Tuesday’s primary runoff for Sen. Roger Wicker’s (R-Miss.) former House seat both said Wednesday that they will not run in the open special election to be held April 22, setting up a one-on-one match-up between Southaven Mayor Greg Davis (R) and Prentiss County Chancery Clerk Travis Childers (D).

Former Tupelo Mayor Glenn McCullough (R) and state Rep. Steve Holland (D) both said they will not campaign for the race, even though their names will be on the ballot. Davis and Childers will also be their parties’ nominees in the November general election, for which Tuesday’s primary runoffs were being held.

{mosads}McCullough and Holland had to apply for the special election ballot before the runoffs were held, meaning they cannot remove their names.

“I support [Childers] 1,000,000 percent,” Holland said on his website. “I want you to help me put Travis in Washington on April 22nd and keep him in office through the November election.”

McCullough said in a statement: “We need to keep this seat in Republican hands and that is why I am today informing the Secretary of State that I will no longer be a candidate in the Special Election on April 22. It is time to bring the Republican family together.”

Davis overcame a second-place finish in the primary and edged McCullough, 51-49. He will be the favorite against Childers, who beat Holland 57-43.

In the other result in the state Tuesday, attorney Gregg Harper will be a heavy favorite in November for retiring Rep. Chip Pickering’s (R) seat after defeating state Sen. Charlie Ross 57-43.

Harper, a former Rankin County GOP chairman who trailed Ross 33-28 in the March 11 primary, also came from behind to win. He will face Democrat Joel Gill, who won a two-man race in the primary.