Gulf Live: Mike Ezell ousts six-term incumbent Steven Palazzo for Republican congressional nomination

June 29, 2022

Gulf Live:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two of Congress’ staunchest conservatives repelled more centrist alternatives to lock up Republican nominations on Tuesday, even as the party’s Mississippi voters chose to turn out six-term incumbent Steven Palazzo.


Illinois Republican Rep. Mary Miller won her primary over fellow incumbent Rep. Rodney Davis just days after she called the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade a “historic victory for white life” during a weekend rally with former President Donald Trump. Her spokesperson said she misspoke.


Another Trump ally, Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert, one of Congress’ most polarizing members, easily beat back a challenge from a more mainstream Republican.


Palazzo, meanwhile, lost in a rare runoff to Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell. But his Republican House colleague, Michael Guest, won a runoff race in the state, despite defying Trump and voting to create an independent commission to investigate last year’s insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

In Illinois, Democratic Rep. Sean Casten beat progressive Rep. Marie Newman for a seat in suburban Chicago after a declining population cost the state a House seat.


In all, six states held congressional primary elections, primary runoffs or special elections. In addition to testing Trump’s national influence, they provided hints of how voters are reacting to the high court’s decision on abortion.


Palazzo had also been accused in a 2021 congressional ethics report of abusing his office by misspending campaign funds and was largely absent from the campaign trail until after the primary. But after his defeat, he blamed the pandemic and the Biden administration for his loss.


“With COVID and because of what the Biden administration is doing to this country, they took their anger out on me,” Palazzo said.

Ezell, who garnered 54% of the vote, said he won because of connections he forged during more than 40 years in law enforcement. “When people call and need something, I’ve been accessible to them,” he said.


Ezell now moves on to face former gubernatorial candidate and Hattiesburg mayor Johnny DuPree in November’s general election.


Meanwhile, Guest won a third term after being forced into a runoff against former Navy fighter pilot Michael Cassidy.


https://www.gulflive.com/news/2022/06/mike-ezell-ousts-six-term-incumbent-steven-palazzo-for-republican-congressional-nomination.html

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