NATCHEZ —Democratic Challenger Wes Middleton unseated incumbent District 1 Adams County Supervisor Mike Lazarus and Adams County Coroner James Lee won reelection in Tuesday’s primary elections.

Several other contested races were decided in the primary since no Republicans or independent candidates mounted challenges.

Several races also appear to be headed to Aug. 27 runoffs, according to unofficial returns on Tuesday night.

Incumbent Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten handily won the Democratic nomination in Tuesday’s party primary to advance to the General Election on Nov. 5 to compete against two independent candidates Adam Kirk and Brian Seyfarth for a second term in office.

Several absentee and affidavit ballots remain to be counted and added to the totals before the results are certified later this week, election officials said.

Lee won reelection with 5,819 votes, or 78.3%, in Tuesday’s primary, defeating Democratic challenger Johnathan Hargrave with 1,604 votes, or 21.5%. No independent or Republican challengers sought the office.

Middleton, with 855 votes, or 51.8%, defeated Lazurus, with 793 votes, or 48%, according to unofficial results.

Patten garnered 5,910 votes, or 77% of the vote, to his challengers Tom Grennell’s 959 votes, or 12.45%, and Jerry Ford’s 801 votes, or 10.47% percent.

“It feels good to know that when you put God first and put in the hard work that people recognize it and it pays off,” Patten said. “Tonight for me was humbling, but I ain’t going to lie. It feels good.”

Incumbent District 4 Adams County Supervisor James “Rickey” Gray also won the Democratic nomination with 1,256 votes, or 82.5% of the vote, defeating challenger Rita Bernard Brooks, who garnered 266 votes, or 17.4% of the votes.

Gray advances to the Nov. 5 general election where he will face independent challenger Jacquetta McCranie.

Incumbent Adams County District 3 Supervisor Angela Gibson Hutchins handily won the Democratic nomination with 1,041 votes, or 84.2% of the vote, to challenger Ann Ford Jones’ 191 votes, or 15.4% of the vote.

Hutchins now faces independent challengers Brandon McCranie and Wilbert Whittley in the Nov. 5 general election.

In the heated race for Adams County Circuit Clerk position being vacated by retiring Circuit Clerk Eddie Walker, Lady J’ M. Johnson and Eva Givens appear to be headed to an Aug. 27 runoff.

Johnson garnered 2,541, or 33.7% of the vote, to Givens’ 2,433, or 32% of the vote. Challenger Daye Dearing earned 2,206 votes, or 29% of the vote and challenger Jason Wisner garnered 384 votes or 5% of the vote.