Voters in Simpson County are gearing up for the 2026 Mississippi Primary Election, set for Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
This election will determine the major party nominees for key federal offices — including U.S. Senate and the U.S. House — who will advance to the November 3 general election. If no candidate in a particular contest secures a majority of votes on March 10, a primary runoff election will be held on April 7, 2026.
Registered voters in Simpson County can cast their ballots at their local polling places between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Election Day. Absentee voting — both by mail and in person at the Circuit Clerk’s office — is underway and will run through Saturday, March 7. Mail-in ballots must be received by Election Day, and in-person absentee voting is available at the county clerk’s office.
In Simpson County, as across the state, voters will choose party nominees to represent the Democrats and Republicans in federal contests. Because Mississippi conducts open primaries, any registered voter may select either a Republican or Democratic ballot — but not both — when casting their vote.
While local offices such as municipal boards and some judicial seats may not be on the March 10 ballot, the spotlight in Simpson County will be on federal races, including:
• U.S. Senate: Incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith faces a GOP primary challenge from Sarah Adlakha. Democratic voters will choose among Scott Colom, Albert R. Littell, and Priscilla W. Till for their nomination.
• U.S. House of Representatives: All four of Mississippi’s House districts are holding primaries. Incumbents such as Republicans Trent Kelly (1st District), Michael Guest (3rd District), and Mike Ezell (4th District) are on the primary ballot, along with challengers from both parties in several districts. Democrats have contested primaries in the 1st, 2nd and 4th Districts.
These federal races will shape Mississippi’s congressional delegation heading into the November election.
Mississippi voters who wanted to participate in the March primary had to be registered by February 9, 2026. That deadline ensures voters’ names appear on the March 10 ballot rolls.
Poll workers are still being recruited in some counties to help staff precincts on Election Day, and local election officials remind voters to check their polling locations and hours ahead of time.
Across Mississippi, the March 10 primary is one of the most consequential early matches in the 2026 midterm election calendar. In addition to federal contests, the results will influence party control and strategy for the general election in November.
• U.S. Senate: The Republican primary between Hyde-Smith and Adlakha could signal whether GOP voters prefer to stick with the incumbent or choose a fresh candidate. Democrats are also fielding multiple contenders to try to flip the seat in November — a challenging task in a state that has not elected a Democratic senator since 1982.
• U.S. House: Every one of Mississippi’s four congressional districts will have nominees selected in these primaries, setting the stage for potentially competitive general elections.
Following the March 10 election, candidates who do not win outright but finish in the top two where required will advance to runoff elections on April 7. Winners of the primaries and runoffs will then prepare for General Election Day on November 3, 2026, when all federal offices — including Senate and House seats — are on the ballot alongside other statewide and local positions.
In Simpson County and beyond, Mississippi voters are poised to make decisions that will resonate through the state’s political landscape well into 2027.
