Incumbent Republican Mississippi Sen. Robin Robinson, R-Laurel, lost her bid for reelection to Senate District 42 after Don Hartness defeated her in the Republican special primary election on Tuesday.
She was the only incumbent to lose reelection in Tuesday night’s contested special election primaries, which included five state Senate seats and two state House seats.
Hartness garnered 4,241 votes while Robinson received 1,675 votes. Robinson’s brother, RJ Robinson, also ran in the primary, collecting just 83 votes.
No Democrats ran for Senate District 42, so Hartness will go unchallenged in the Nov. 4 special election.
“Congratulations to Don Hartness,” Robin Robinson said in a Tuesday night Facebook post. “I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve as your state Senator. I hope and pray that God continues to bless Mississippi and her people.”
Robinson’s district is one of several legislative districts that had to hold special elections this year after a three-judge panel ordered the Mississippi Legislature to undergo redistricting to ensure Black voters have equal participation in the political process.
Reeves Frames Elections as Referendum Against Medicaid Expansion
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves framed Tuesday night’s results as a rejection of Medicaid expansion by Republican primary voters, noting that while Robinson lost, two Republican senators (Michael McLendon and Chris Johnson) who voted against a bill to expand Medicaid in 2024 won reelection.
“Senator Parker and Senator Robinson both voted to expand Obamacare in MS and neither of them will be returning to the Senate,” Reeves wrote in a Facebook post today, referring to Sen. David Parker.
The governor’s attempt at identifying a pattern was misleading, though; Parker, a Republican from Southaven who represents Senate District 2, chose not to run for reelection this year and was not on the ballot. Robinson was the only pro-Medicaid expansion incumbent to lose a primary on Tuesday.
Though both Republican-led chambers passed Medicaid expansion bills last year, neither could agree on a final version, and the effort died at the time. Reeves added in his Facebook post Wednesday that he believes “Senator Robinson would have voted to sustain a veto but she never got the chance.”
Mississippi’s Republican legislative leaders did not bring Medicaid expansion back up for a vote this year amid uncertainty over the new Trump administration’s approach to Medicaid. If expanded, Medicaid could help provide around 200,000 working Mississippians with health care who are currently uncovered.
One House Republican who voted for Medicaid expansion, Rep. Dana McLean of Columbus, ran unopposed for her Senate District 39 seat in Tuesday’s special elections. So did a Senate Republican who voted against Medicaid expansion, Rep. Joey Fillingane of Sumrall, who represents Senate District 41. Two Democratic incumbents who joined their fellow party members to vote for Medicaid expansion also faced no challengers Tuesday: Rep. Karl Gibbs of West Point (House District 36) and Sen. Juan Barnett of Heidelberg (Senate District 34).
More Results
Mississippi House District 16 incumbent Rep. Rickey Thompson, D-Shannon, won 1,325 votes, beating opponent Brady Davis’ 348 votes in the Democratic primary. Republicans did not field a candidate for the district and Thompson will go unchallenged in the general election.
Incumbent Mississippi House Rep. Kabir Karriem, D-Columbus, won the Democratic primary for House District 41 with 1,310 votes compared to the 248 votes challenger Pierre Beard, Sr., garnered. Karriem will not face a general election opponent.
Mississippi Senate District 1 incumbent Sen. Michael McLendon, R-Hernando, amassed 3,935 votes while his opponent Jon Stevenson received 1,890 votes. McLendon will face Democrat Chris Hanna in the general election.
“I look forward to continuing the work we started—standing up for our rural communities, pushing back against government overreach, protecting our conservative values, and making sure DeSoto and Tate stay a place we’re proud to call home,” McLendon said in a Tuesday night Facebook post.
With Parker deciding not to run for reelection for Mississippi Senate District 2, the Republican Party cancelled its primary and made Charlie Hoots its nominee. On Tuesday night, Theresa Gillespie Isom defeated Robert Walker in the Democratic primary with 768 votes compared to Walker’s 187.
In a tight race, incumbent Mississippi Senate District 11 Sen. Reginald Jackson, D-Marks, won the bid for reelection with 275 votes versus 215 votes for his opponent, former Mississippi House Rep. Abe Hudson, Jr. Jackson’s Republican opponent in the general election will be Kendall Lee Prewett.
Incumbent Mississippi Senate District 11 Sen. Chris Johnson, R-Hattiesburg, defeated Patrick Lott by garnering 2,282 votes, while Lott received 1,961 votes. Democrat Shakita Taylor will be Johnson’s opponent in the general election.
Johnson extended his gratitude to voters for choosing him to move forward in the Nov. 4 election.
“You can’t win an election on your own, and so many good people have stood behind us and helped. But there are also many people who did not vote to support me, and I hope to continue to work and earn their support going into November and future races,” the incumbent senator said in a Wednesday morning Facebook video.
The winners of Tuesday’s primaries will head to the Nov. 4 special election. On the same day, two additional Senate seats will be on the ballot. In Senate District 19, Democrat Dianne Dodson Black will face incumbent Republican Sen. Kevin Blackwell. In Senate District 45, Republican Anna Rush will go up against Democrat Johnny DuPree.
