Zinn, Kelly Win Spots In 1ST Congressional District Runoff

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Democrat Walter Zinn and Republican Trent Kelly have advanced to a June 2 runoff to fill a vacant congressional seat in north Mississippi.

Zinn, a 34-year-old attorney, has worked as a political consultant. He was the only Democrat in the contest Tuesday and appears to have been helped by a splintering of the vote among 12 Republicans.

The 49-year-old Kelly is a district attorney for seven counties, about one-third of the state’s 1st Congressional District.

The special election is to fill a seat left vacant by the death of Republican Rep. Alan Nunnelee. He was 56 when he died of brain cancer in February.

Although parties were not listed on the ballot, candidates told voters their party affiliation.