Steven Palazzo beats 3 GOP opponents for another term in US House
Steven Palazzo on Tuesday won his sixth term as Mississippi’s 4th Congressional District representative, fending off challenges from three opponents who also defined themselves as supporters of President Trump.
Palazzo has no opponents in the general election. With 57% of precincts reporting, he led with 67.5% of the vote. He was trailed by Robert Deming III, with 14.6%, Carl Boyanton, with 9.7% and Samuel Hickman with 8..2%.
Palazzo thanked President Donald Trump for his endorsement a day earlier and emphasized his plans to continue supporting the president’s agenda.
He said, for example, that mandatory spending is leading the nation to “financial disaster.” He said the Social Security and Medicare programs must be changed, but stressed that those who already at or near retirement should not be affected.
“I don’t want to cut Social Security,” he said, “but we need to reform the program.”
He also said that he will continue to be a strong supporter of the military and border security. “We’ve got a lot of enemies out there, known and unknown,” Palazzo said.
Palazzo said he won the primary outright because, “we are doing the things that South Mississippi expects us to do.”
All four candidates campaigned for a balanced budget, an end to legal abortion and support for Trump’s southern border wall.
Palazzo, a former state legislator, was elected to the U..S. House in 2010 using the campaign slogan “Fire Pelosi” in his upset defeat of longtime Democratic incumbent Gene Taylor.
A member of the Mississippi Army National Guard and a Marine, Palazzo has emphasized his support of the military in a district that relies on military spending for jobs and to support the economy.
Trump tweeted his endorsement of Palazzo on Monday, saying: “Congressman @StevenPalazzo is doing a fantastic job for the people of Mississippi. He strongly supports our #MAGA Agenda. Steven will continue to protect your #2A, & Support our INCREDIBLE Vets & Military. Steven has my Complete Endorsement.”
Deming, a Biloxi councilman and attorney, pledged to support Trump’s agenda and work for a balanced budget. Hickman, who grew up in Picayune and has a college degree in political science, emphasized his experience as a staff assistant to Rep. Trent Kelly, who represents Mississippi’s 1st congressional district.
Diamondhead resident and produce broker Boyanton campaigned for term limits of 12 years.
This story was originally published March 10, 2020 at 9:30 PM.
