Palazzo defeats Tegerdine, faces Taylor, more in fall

State Rep. Steven Palazzo earned the right to keep campaigning through the summer for the 4th District Congressional seat.

Palazzo, 40, of Gulfport, defeated Joe Tegerdine, 35, of Petal, for the Republican nomination, according to unofficial returns from Tuesday’s primary.

The primary winner will face Democratic incumbent Rep. Gene Taylor, of Bay St. Louis, Libertarian Kenneth “Tim” Hampton and Reform Party candidate Anna Jewel Revies, both of Hattiesburg, on the Nov. 2 ballot.

Taylor, who has represented the south Mississippi district since 1989, was unopposed for the Democratic Party nomination.

Palazzo has been in the Legislature since 2007. He serves on the Banking and Financial Services, Juvenile Justice, Labor and Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks committees.

He could not be reached late Tuesday night.

While campaigning, the Marine veteran and owner of a small Gulf Coast-based accounting firm said he wanted to build upon his record of service.

In the days leading up to Tuesday, Palazzo, a Gulfport native, said he believed the fact that Tegerdine moved to Mississippi weighed against him.

“We don’t need someone from outside South Mississippi telling us what to do,” Palazzo told the Hattiesburg American last week. “His first vote in Mississippi will be his vote to send himself to Congress.”

Palazzo is one of two Republican lawmakers pushing an initiative to get a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would prohibit the government from requiring Mississippians to purchase health insurance.

Tegerdine has lived in Mississippi since 2007. The Portland, Ore., native moved to Petal to work for a technology firm. He said the values and principles of the district are the same values he grew up with.

“It’s not anything that requires a unique understanding of any local area,” Tegerdine told the Hattiesburg American. “I don’t think that’s going to be a weakness.” Tegerdine said he sought the congressional job out of frustration over “professional politicians.”

He could not be reached late Tuesday night.