Incumbent Palazzo sails into runoff for GOP nomination in 4th District

Republican incumbent Steven Palazzo will face a challenger for the GOP nomination in a runoff for the 4th Congressional District seat scheduled for June 28.

Palazzo, who has been in office since defeating Gene Taylor in 2010, eased into the runoff with 32% of the vote. The incumbent was on the Coast early Tuesday to vote with his son and mom by his side before flying back to DC because of votes coming up in Congress, he said.

After learning that The Associated Press had called it that Palazzo would be in the runoff, his office issued a statement from the Congressman. It looks like he will face Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell in the runoff, although only a few hundred votes separate Ezell and Clay Wagner.

“It’s an honor to serve South Mississippi, and it’s something I do not take for granted,” Palazzo said in a statement. “I’m grateful for our supporters and volunteers who worked hard in this election and who will work hard to help us over the next three weeks. We now turn our attention to the runoff, and we will not be out-worked. We will continue talking to voters about what we’ve been able to accomplish and our plans for promoting policies to restore economic growth, secure our borders, and keep Americans safe.”

Palazzo’s campaign manager Justin Brasell said that the campaign’s approach to the runoff will remain the same as it has been.

“We have a proven leader who stands up to the Radical Left in Washington and who’s the ranking Republican on the committee funding border wall construction,” Brasell said. “Steven Palazzo was instrumental in funding the border wall under President Trump, and once Republicans win a majority this fall, he will again be instrumental in getting that important work underway once more.”