Bob Dearing is poised to return to the Senate District 37 seat he once held as the final tally went his way by a razor-thin margin over incumbent Sen. Melanie Sojourner when Pike County election commissioners finished canvassing ballots Tuesday night.
District wide, Dearing had 8,213 votes (50.2 percent) to Sojourner’s 8,154, a difference of 59 votes, according unofficial and uncertified results. However, numbers from Sojourner’s camp claim Dearing won by 62 votes, according to Pike County Republican Chairman Bobby McDaniel.
Final numbers for Pike County came to 3,145 votes (64 percent) for Sojourner and 1,771 for Dearing after election commissioners canvassed all precincts to determine affidavit ballot results.
Dearing praised the election commissioners and thanked his supporters after learning of his apparent victory Tuesday night — a week after voters cast ballots in the election.
“I want to thank the commissioners for their professionalism and hard work. You guys did a great job,” Dearing told election commissioners after confirmation of the final numbers. “I’m pleased with the outcome and it looks like I’ll be returning.”
Election commissioners in Pike County planned to certify the results Thursday morning. Affidavit ballots in Adams County were certified Tuesday afternoon, but officials couldn’t be reached this morning as government offices were closed for Veterans Day.
Dearing won Adams County in convincing fashion, receiving 3,852 votes (68 percent) to 1,825 for Sojourner.
Uncertified results in Amite County show that Sojourner carried the county with a vote total of 1,751 votes (64 percent) to 1,000 for Dearing.
Uncertified results in Franklin County reveal the closest county race with 1,590 votes (53 percent) for Dearing and 1,433 votes for Sojourner.
Sojourner, who unseated Dearing four years ago, conceded defeat Tuesday.
“I want to thank the hundreds of volunteers and the 8,000-plus voters in District 37 who stood strong as we fought to restore conservative principles,” she said. “You believe in me and never wavered. Well, I believe in you, too. And I am forever grateful for your friendship and support. Four years ago, I promised you I would fight for our conservative convictions, and I honored my word. Each day, I sacrificed for the conservative movement and the people of Mississippi.”
Sojourner, who faced two primary opponents before taking on Dearing in the general election, said others within her own party tried to thwart her re-election bid.
“Because I stood for you and our values, establishment insiders attempted to malign my character and my legislative record. Because I refused to join their good old boys club, they sought my defeat,” she said. “Instead of responding negatively, I stayed the course, talking to voters about the issues and my real record in the Mississippi Senate.”
She remarked that her conservative ideology in a traditionally Democratic area led to her loss.
“Even though I ran in a district which is traditionally controlled by Democrats, I understand that the conservative majority of Mississippians want leaders who will stand against the likes of President Obama’s dangerous liberal agenda, which mirrors the Democrat Party’s agenda in Jackson,” Sojourner said. “Make no mistake. I was willing to give up our senate seat if it meant doing the right thing, and I would have never surrendered your conservative principles just for the sake of being re-elected.”
Sojourner hinted at voting improprieties in her concession.
“There have been glaring examples with the process in this election that are deeply troubling, and voters and volunteers are working to be certain that the integrity of this election has not been compromised,” she said. “We must be sure that any and all votes were legally cast and legally accepted.”
She has 12 days to examine ballot boxes in all four counties.
“She’ll have to serve notice to the circuit clerk for each county where she wants to conduct an examination,” Berger said.
Sojourner will have to give Dearing three days notice if she does. Dearing is allowed to have a representative on hand at any of the counties under review.
“She carried Pike by a wide margin, but her supporters are really upset — it seems — about Adams and Franklin counties. That’s where I would think she would look first,” Berger said.
Despite Tuesday night’s outcome, Berger said Sojourner has a bright political future.
“I was very impressed with the way she conducted herself in Pike County. The fact she won four years ago in a heavily Democratic district, that’s impressive. I’m not sure what she is thinking right now, but she has good longterm options politically,” she said.
