Mississippi sends incumbents back to DC

Mississippians returned incumbents to Washington in Election Day voting that saw the state go for Mitt Romney, unofficial returns show. One of the re-elected congressmen was a Democrat, the other a Republican, The Jackson (Miss.) Clarion-Ledger reported Wednesday. Republican Rep. Gregg Harper won a third term in the 3rd Congressional District by a wide margin, defeating Reform Party candidate Luke Pannell. Democrat Crystal Biggs withdrew before the election, citing health reasons. Democrat Bennie Thompson, 64, was returned to the 2nd Congressional District seat he has held since 1993. He received 69 percent of the vote while Republican challenger Bill Marcy got 29 percent. A third candidate, Cobby Mondale Williams, ran as an independent. Romney won 55.4 percent of the state's popular vote, but the re-election of President Barack Obama spawned a late-night disturbance by students at the University of Mississippi. Witnesses reported students shouted racial slurs about Obama and African-Americans. The student newspaper reported students also threw rocks at cars. Police were called, but no students were reported hurt nor any arrests made. The crowd broke up about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.