AP

Ezell wins in Mississippi, keeping US House seat for GOP

Nov 7, 2022, 1:00 PM | Updated: Nov 8, 2022, 9:22 pm

Shuwaski Young, the Democratic candidate for Mississippi's Third Congressional District addresses t...

Shuwaski Young, the Democratic candidate for Mississippi's Third Congressional District addresses the crowd at the pavilion in Founders Square at the Neshoba County Fair in Philadelphia, Miss., as seen in this July 27, 2022, file photo. He faces incumbent U.S. Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

(AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)


              Shuwaski Young, the Democratic candidate for Mississippi's Third Congressional District addresses the crowd at the pavilion in Founders Square at the Neshoba County Fair in Philadelphia, Miss., as seen in this July 27, 2022, file photo. He faces incumbent U.S. Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
            
              U.S. Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss., answers reporters questions after he and his wife Haley Guest, right, cast their ballots at their Brandon precinct, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, in Brandon, Miss. Guest, the incumbent, faces Democrat Shuwaski Young for the state's 3rd Congressional District seat. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
            
              File - This March 7, 2020 file photo shows Brian Flowers, the Republican candidate for Mississippi's Second Congressional District. He faces incumbent U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
            
              U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss, shows up early Tuesday to cast his vote in the 2022 midterm elections at his precinct in Bolton, Miss., Nov. 8, 2022. Thompson is seeking re-election for his 2nd Congressional district seat. (Hannah Mattix/The Clarion-Ledger via AP)
            
              FILE - U.S. Rep. Trent Kelly, R-Miss., shown in this Nov. 4, 2019, file photograph taken in Tupelo, faces two opponents in Mississippi's 2022 First Congressional District race on Nov. 8, 2022, including Democrat Dianne Black. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
            
              Former four-term Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree casts his ballot at the Hattiesburg, Miss., Cultural Center precinct, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. DuPree, 68, is the Democratic nominee for Mississippi's 4th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives and faces Republican Mike Ezell. (Lici Beveridge/Hattiesburg American via AP)
            
              Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell, the Republican candidate for Mississippi's 4th Congressional District, shakes hands with voters after he voted at First Presbyterian Church in Pascagoula, Miss., Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. (Hannah Ruhoff/The Sun Herald via AP)
            
              Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell, the Republican candidate for Mississippi's 4th Congressional District, shakes hands with voters after he voted at First Presbyterian Church in Pascagoula, Miss., Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. (Hannah Ruhoff/The Sun Herald via AP)
            
              Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell, the Republican candidate for Mississippi's 4th Congressional District, shakes hands with voters after he voted at First Presbyterian Church in Pascagoula, Miss., Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. (Hannah Ruhoff/The Sun Herald via AP)
            
              File — Former Hattiesburg, Miss., mayor Johnny L. DuPree, shown in this Oct. 31, 2019 file photograph taken in Jackson, faces Republican Mike Ezell and one other candidate for Mississippi's Fourth Congressional District seat on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo, R-Miss., was defeated in his reelection bid. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
            
              FILE - Mike Ezell, of Jackson County, is shown in this May 19, 2022, file photograph taken in Carriere, Miss., May 19, 2022. Ezell, a Republican, is running for Mississippi's Fourth Congressional District and faces two opponents, including Democrat Johnny L. DuPree. U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo, R-Miss., was defeated in his reelection bid. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mike Ezell has defeated a Democrat and a Libertarian candidate in a south Mississippi congressional race, allowing Republicans to retain control of the seat.

Ezell defeated Democrat Johnny DuPree and Libertarian Alden Patrick Johnson in the southern 4th District. Ezell is the sheriff of coastal Jackson County. DuPree is a former Hattiesburg mayor and was the 2011 Democratic nominee for governor.

In June, Ezell defeated six-term Rep. Steven Palazzo for the GOP nomination. Ezell criticized Palazzo for proxy voting — not showing up in person to vote in the House but allowing another member to vote in his place.

The Office of Congressional Ethics said in 2021 it found “substantial reason to believe” Palazzo abused his office by misspending campaign funds, doing favors for his brother and enlisting staff for political and personal errands. His spokesperson at the time, Colleen Kennedy, said the investigation was based on politically motivated “false allegations.”

1st DISTRICT

Republican Rep. Trent Kelly won another term in north Mississippi’s 1st District. He defeated Democrat Dianne Black, a business owner who said she wanted to expand access to health care and fight climate change.

Kelly is a former district attorney who first won the congressional seat in a 2015 special election.

2nd DISTRICT

Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson was facing the same Republican he defeated in 2020, military veteran Brian Flowers.

Thompson is chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee and has led the House investigation of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. He has been in office since winning a 1993 special election in western Mississippi’s 2nd District.

Flowers said this year that Thompson “is trying to intimidate American patriots” with the Jan. 6 investigation.

3rd DISTRICT

Republican Rep. Michael Guest defeated Democrat Shuwaski Young in central Mississippi’s 3rd District. Guest is a former district attorney, and he first won the congressional seat in 2018. He campaigned on opposing abortion rights and supporting border security.

Guest said Tuesday that if Republicans take control on Capitol Hill, “you’ll see Congress serve as a check and balance on the administration.” He said Republicans want to rein in federal spending and clear the way for more oil drilling offshore and on public lands.

Young is a military veteran who campaigned on supporting abortion rights and protecting Medicare and Social Security.

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Ezell wins in Mississippi, keeping US House seat for GOP