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The voters have spoken in the Natchez Municipal Democratic Party Primary election and all but one alderman seat is settled in the primary race.

Ward 4 Democratic Party candidates, incumbent Felicia Bridgewater-Irving and challenger Michael Calcote, are headed to a June 23 runoff.

The winner of that race will face Republican Brenda Floyd in the July 14 general election.

Otherwise, in other municipal Democratic Party primary races, longtime incumbent Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis was edged out for the Democratic Party nomination by challenger Valencia Hall, who will face independent challenger Jamar White in the July 14 general election.

In the race for the Democratic Party Mayoral nomination, Dan Gibson drew more votes than Tony Fields a former Natchez Alderman and current Natchez-Adams School district employee.

All of the campaigns were clean. The candidates focused on their own strengths and did not seek to tear down their opponents.

As we progress to the general election, we hope the same can be said of the campaigns.

Keep your eye on the candidates, study up and be prepared to vote for the best candidate in the June 23 runoff Ward 4 and for the July 14 general election.

May the best candidates emerge to lead Natchez for the next four years.