(The Center Square) — Former President Donald Trump picked up Mississippi’s 40 delegates as he continues to inch closer to locking up the GOP nomination.
Trump is the last remaining candidate in the Republican field and won with 92.5% of preliminary results with 64% of precincts reporting, defeating a group of challengers that included former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who have suspended their campaigns.
The former president needed 1,215 delegates to become the nominee, and victories in Georgia and Mississippi plus a projected win in Washington puts him at 1,228, according to several national media outlets.
President Joe Biden also earned the Magnolia State’s delegates with an uncontested victory in the Democratic primary.
U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker easily bested his two opponents – state Rep. Dan Eubanks and Ghannon Burton – in his GOP primary. Wicker won with 61.9% of the preliminary results with 58% of precincts reporting.
Wicker, who was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2007, will take on the Democrat challenger Ty Pinkins, who ran unopposed.
The state’s four-member House delegation will remain unchanged after Tuesday’s results.
The only incumbent to face a primary challenge, U.S. Rep. Mike Ezell, defeated his two opponents – Carl Boyanton and Michael McGill – with 72.9% of the unconfirmed tally with 84% reporting. He will take on Craig Raybon, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary for the 4th Congressional District seat.
U.S. Reps. Trent Kelly and Michael Guest ran unopposed in the GOP primaries. Guest will have no Democratic challenger in the 3rd Congressional District, while Kelly will take on Democrat Dianne Black, who won her primary with 84.9% of the vote with 25.4% reporting.
U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson ran unopposed in the 2nd Congressional District’s Democratic primary and will take on GOP challenger Ronald Eller, who was leading with 46.7% of the vote with 53% reporting. Andrew Smith was second with 36.2%. Eller will need to get to 50% to avoid a runoff.
