Local Sheriff Ousts Incumbent Republican in Mississippi US House Primary Runoff

Palazzo’s relations with veterans was a matter of dispute

File photo: Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.) (L) in Washington on July 28, 2011. House GOP

Mike Ezell, a local sheriff, defeated Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.) in the June 28 GOP primary runoff for Mississippi’s 4th Congressional District, marking the end of a race that intensified after a June 7 primary election split the vote among multiple candidates.

With 83.9 percent of the ballots counted at 10:04 p.m., Ezell had 53.1 percent of the vote and was declared the winner by The Associated Press.