A runoff appeared likely in the GOP Senate primary between six-term incumbent Thad Cochran and tea party challenger state Sen. Chris McDaniel on Tuesday night, with the race tight, neither at over 50 percent and a little-known third candidate, Thomas Carey, tracking just under 2 percent.
McDaniel and Cochran swapped leads as results came in. With 97 percent of precincts in, unofficial results showed McDaniel leading 49.5 percent, or 147,451 votes, to Cochran’s 49 percent or 146,071 votes. To avoid a runoff, a candidate must receive more than 50 percent. A runoff would be held on June 24.
This would have been a good case for instant runoff voting. But this is good for political consultants and journalists who want to write more tea party v. old guard stories.