Dana McLean will represent House District 39 in 2020 after she beat 28-year incumbent Rep. Jeff Smith in Tuesday’s Republican primary.
Between both Lowndes and Monroe counties, McLean collected 2,171 votes to Smith’s 2,009 votes, giving her 51.93 percent of the vote after machine and absentee ballots were tallied. Affidavits remain to be processed today in both counties, but the total of those in the District 39 race is fewer than the margin of McLean’s lead.
There is no Democratic candidate in the race.
“I’m humbled. I really am,” McLean, 59, said this morning. “I’m still in shock.”
McLean is a Columbus-based real estate agent with Century 21 Doris Hardy and Associates agency. She credited her victory to a small group of “faithful supporters” who helped her campaign.
“It’s definitely been a grassroots effort,” she said.
The Dispatch could not reach Smith, 68, for a comment by press time. However, he posted his feelings to his Facebook page today.
“The elections are over for now and I did not prevail for the first time in a long time,” he posted. “I wish my opponent and the winner God speed, and all the success in the world. (…) It has been a privilege to serve the people of District 39 for 28 years, and I know you will continue to be served well. God bless you all.”
Smith has been District 39’s representative since 1992. He was first elected as a Democrat and switched parties in 2011. He served as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
“I think we all owe a thanks to Representative Smith for his long and dedicated years of service,” McLean said.
McLean claimed a 120-vote lead in Lowndes County, with 1,810 votes to Smith’s 1,690, sans affidavits that could be counted. In Monroe County, McLean beat Smith 361 to 319 votes. Only 10 Republican affidavit ballots have yet to be counted in that race. There are 78 total affidavits in Lowndes, but not all of those are Republican primary ballots.
House District 38
In the House 38 District race, which includes parts of Oktibbeha, Lowndes and Clay counties, Democrat incumbent Cheikh Taylor easily won re-election against challenger Lisa Wynn. There is no Republican candidate in the race.
All total, Taylor received 2,639 votes to Wynn’s 907, giving him 74.42 percent of the votes.
Taylor, 45, has represented the district since 2018, when he was elected to replace longtime representative Tyrone Ellis, who retired. Both Taylor and Wynn are from Starkville.
Wynn, 51, represented Ward 2 on the Starkville Board of Aldermen from 2013-17. She unsuccessfully ran for District 38 representative against Taylor in the 2017 special election.
During this year’s campaign, Wynn launched a barrage of attacks on the incumbent, especially on social media and in a mailer she sent throughout the district.
The mailer, which she distributed over the weekend, shows a photo of Taylor’s house with the address and value listed. It says he lives in an “all-white” neighborhood, notes he voted to give state money to private schools and criticizes him for not supporting a state lottery bill to fund infrastructure.
“I think the district is at a very critical point, and it showed it will not accept dirty politics,” Taylor said. “This district expects integrity, transparency and facts. That’s the kind of leadership I want to usher in.
“From now on, opponents will have to be prepared to discuss issues and policies,” he added. “This has been a spiritual journey for me. It has taught me humility, but it has also taught me that the community will speak for you.”
Wynn expressed disappointment, but acceptance, with the results.
“I worked so hard,” she said. “I went into communities in the district, sat down with families and went door-to-door campaigning. I gave it my all, and when you do that and you don’t win, you don’t get bitter. I accept the will of the voters.”
Still, in response to Taylor’s assertion Wynn’s campaign mailer and social media posts were “dirty politics,” Wynn remained unmoved.
“I sent out a campaign mailer that had facts, not opinions,” she said. “… Cheikh Taylor is not what this community needs.”
Managing Editor Zack Plair contributed to this report.
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