Missy Warren McGee and Kathryn Rehner will be campaigning for the next week after the two Hattiesburg collected enough votes for an Oct. 3 runoff to fill the state House District 102 seat
The two women were among four candidates who competed Sept. 12 in a special election. The runoff could have a bearing on the
Republican majority in the House of Representatives, according to one incumbent legislator.
McGee, a lifelong Hattiesburg resident, led the field of four candidates with 1,475 votes, or 44.7 percent of the total votes. Rehner, a social worker, followed with 812 votes, or 24.4 percent.
The special election was held to fill the unexpired term of Toby Barker, who became Hattiesburg mayor July 1 after running as an independent. He ran for the state House as a Republican.
McGee said she was “incredibly grateful for the support I've received.”
“This campaign for me has always been about putting Hattiesburg first,” she said. “It is the place that has been my lifelong home and the place that I love with all my heart.”
Rehner also thanked her voters.
“I am excited,” she said. “I am grateful for everybody that came out and supported me. We have the opportunity to continue to work to put people first in House District 102.”
State Rep. Brad Touchstone, a Hattiesburg Republican representing District 101, said the District 102 post is important to the political makeup in the House.
“Good news is over 70 percent of the votes cast (Sept. 12) went to strong Republican candidates,” he said.
Touchstone said the House has four vacancies in the 122-member body and the Republican three-fifths’ supermajority was last measured at 60.2 percent on July 25.
Members of the Mississippi House of Representatives serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Mississippi legislators assume office the first day of the regular session of the year after their election. The Constitution requires the Legislature to convene yearly on the Tuesday after the first Monday in January.
In order to run for the Mississippi House of Representatives, a candidate must be at least 21 years old, a qualified elector and resident of the State of Mississippi for four years and a resident of the county or district a candidate plans to represent for two years.
The polls are open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. for the House District, which includes Forrest and Lamar counties.
