NATCHEZ — Angela Baker Brooks of Natchez will face off on Aug. 25 against McComb’s Tammy Felder Witherspoon in the race to be the Democratic candidate for state senator in District 38.

District 38 includes portions of five Mississippi counties, including Adams.

Democrat Kelvin Butler of McComb is vacating the seat.

Witherspoon was top vote getter on Aug. 4, earning 3,558 or 29 percent of the votes to Brooks’ 3,168 or 26 percent of the votes.

In the Nov. 3 general election, the winner of the runoff will face Republican Dennis Quinn, who was unopposed in the primary election, and independent Bente Hess Johnson.

Witherspoon serves as a selectwoman on the McComb city board.

Brooks is a certified English and Spanish teacher, working in the Natchez-Adams School District.

“I really wanted to run because I wanted to give help to more people on a larger scale. I like what I do locally and wanted to be in a position to help more,” Brooks said.

This race for District 38 state senator is her first.

“When I tell you it has been a real grassroots effort, I mean that. I didn’t get some donations I expected to receive. It’s been hectic and frustrating, but it’s been overall good,” she said.

Brooks led voting in three of the five counties in the district — Waltham, Wilkinson and Adams. Witherspoon carried Pike and Amite counties.

This race was Witherspoon’s first for a state government position. However, she’s in her second term on the McComb city board of selectmen, representing Ward 3.

“I’m very excited about winning, winning the most votes in the primary,” Witherspoon said. “I’m back hitting the streets and running now. We’ve got to push forward and work hard.”

Witherspoon said she decided to run for the state senate seat because she wants to be the voice of her community.

“As a community activist, I was hearing so many concerns from people in my community,” she said.

Witherspoon said she wants to work to make sure public education in Mississippi is fully funded.

“And I’m for Medicaid expansion. I’ve been hearing a lot about that on the trail. And I know how important funding is for small municipalities for infrastructure and recreation,” she said.