According to a race call from the Associated Press, Mike Ezell has won Mississippi’s 4th Congressional District race by more than 50 percentage points. Ezell defeated incumbent Congressman Stephen Palazzo during the primary election earlier this year. Ezell currently serves as the Sheriff of Jackson County and says he would like to focus on homeland security issues during his time in office.
“Well I want to look at getting on the Armed Services Committee. And you know I’m very concerned about what’s going on around the world right now with so many things happening. With the Russians, the Chinese and the Ukrainians and all that stuff going on. Our borders. I’m just very concerned about a lot of the things that’s happening right now.”
When the race was called in favor of Ezell by the Associated Press, Democratic congressional candidate Johnny DuPree conceded victory in a phone call between the two. DuPree, who formerly served as the Mayor of Hattiesburg, says this is a disappointing loss. But, says he’s hopeful that Ezell will serve in the region’s best interest.
Ezell defeated six-term Congressman Steven Palazzo. This year’s primary election was the first race Palazzo participated in since the Office of Congressional Ethics found substantial reason to believe the representative abused his office. The report claimed he misspent campaign funds, offered favors for his brother and enlisted staff for political and personal errands.
