Biography

(Supertalk) - Gulf Coast attorney and Republican candidate Hugh Keating has won Gulfport’s mayoral seat after a tense race against former state lawmaker and Democratic candidate Sonya Williams Barnes. A long night at Gulfport City Hall stretched into the early hours of Wednesday morning. In the end, Keating totaled 6,902 votes to Williams Barnes’ 6,073 to take the seat and replace Mayor Billy Hewes, who decided not to seek reelection. Onlookers kept a close eye on those organizing and managing the vote count as leadership from both candidates’ state parties had lobbed accusations of election interference to their opponents in the last seven days. The Mississippi GOP claimed on May 28 that Williams Barnes’ campaign was guilty of buying voters by providing meal vouchers to residents who cast in-person absentee ballots, though the Democrat vehemently denied the claims. The accusation sparked a public call for an investigation by state Republican Party chairman Mike Hurst, along with an investigation by the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, though no conclusions were ever brought forth. Four days later, the Mississippi Democratic Party issued a public statement condemning efforts by Keating supporters. Specifically, Democratic leaders pointed to a letter sent to employees of Island View Casino by managing partner Rick Carter that voiced support for Keating’s mayoral bid. State party chairman Cheikh Taylor called upon the Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Gulfport Election Commission to investigate the matter, though officials did not announce an official investigation would be carried out. The day after Carter’s letter to employees, Island View CEO Linsey Inman issued a follow-up letter, attempting to ease unrest by some who received the letter that there was pressure to vote for Keating. In the lead up to the general election, the race drew statewide, regional, and national attention as both candidates brought in heavy hitting endorsements, such as Keating receiving in-person support from U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Mayor Billy Hewes, and other statewide leaders. Williams Barnes drew the support of former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), and other top Democratic leaders as she made a push to become the coastal city’s first Black woman to hold the mayor’s office. Upon the certification of Tuesday’s results, Keating will assume the mayor’s seat on July 1.

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(Magnolia Tribune) - Perhaps the most intriguing Municipal General Election mayor’s race this cycle is in Mississippi’s second largest city of Gulfport.  On Tuesday, voters chose to send Republican nominee Hugh Keating to City Hall, electing him to succeed outgoing Mayor Billy Hewes (R) who did not seek re-election. Unofficial results, according to campaign officials, showed Keating up nearly 1,100 votes over Democrat nominee Sonya Williams Barnes before some 1,400 absentee votes were tallied. When those absentees were counted and reported out after midnight, Keating emerged the winner. He won 6,902 votes, or 53.2 percent, with Williams Barnes receiving 6,073 46.8 percent. Nearly 500 affidavit ballots were left to be verified but even if the Democrat won all of those, Keating would still win. The race has drawn interest from national party figures on both sides of the aisle, with former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams (D) coming in to support Williams Barnes and South Carolina U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R) holding a rally backing Keating. Allegations of vote buying swirled in the race last week, resulting in Williams Barnes meeting with investigators at the Mississippi Attorney General’s office. She has denied any wrongdoing. Keating ran unopposed in the Republican Party primary while Williams Barnes won the Democratic Primary with over 84 percent of the vote. Democrats saw an opening after Williams Barnes drew nearly 600 more votes in her primary contest than did Hewes in the 2021 general election. On Tuesday, it appears nearly 13,000 Gulfport voters turned out to cast their ballot in the contentious race. Williams Barnes thanked voters for their support early Wednesday morning in a statement sent to the press. “While we didn’t win the election, what we accomplished together was nothing short of extraordinary,” said Williams Barnes. “In past elections, about 2,000 voters would determine who leads our city. But this time, over 13,000 citizens made their voices heard. That kind of turnout is not only historic — it’s transformative.”

( Magnolia Tribune )Democrat leaders from across the Deep South are coalescing to flip a Republican-held mayor’s seat on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and there is reason for them to be hopeful. Dirt Road Democrats, a political action committee initially launched by former Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison after his failed bid for the U.S. Senate in South Carolina, is making a play for the open Gulfport mayor’s seat by supporting Sonya Williams Barnes. The group, rebooted in 2024 with the help of former gubernatorial candidates Brandon Presley from Mississippi and Chris Jones in Arkansas, both of whom lost their bids for office, focuses on flipping red seats in red, rural states. A mailer sent by Dirt Road Democrats to Gulfport residents in support of Williams Barnes argued, “For too long, Gulfport has been controlled by the same special interest groups. We can make a new way if we all work as one.” The mailer also points to Williams Barnes’ support for clean energy, accountability for corporations, and safe communities. Dirt Road Democrats PAC is not the only player putting weight behind Williams Barnes. Stacey Abrams, who built national notoriety through two failed bids for the Georgia Governor’s Mansion, is also in the mix. Abrams, who grew up in Gulfport, endorsed Williams Barnes and made a financial contribution to her campaign. Presley’s separate “Save Our State PAC” backed Williams Barnes’ candidacy with a $10,000 contribution. Williams Barnes, who won over 84 percent of the vote in Gulfport’s Democratic Primary, pulled in 3,316 votes. Multiple Republican sources have expressed concern with the strength of the turnout in the Democratic Primary. Republican candidate Hugh Keating ran unopposed in the Party’s primary. However, in 2021 outgoing Republican Mayor Billy Hewes won the general election with only 2,680 votes – roughly 600 less than Williams Barnes drew in her primary contest. With his departure and Williams Barnes strong showing in the primary, Democrats see the seat as winnable. In recent weeks, the Mississippi Republican Party has stepped up its efforts, bringing in high profile figures of its own in an effort to raise awareness of the race and drive voter turnout. On Thursday, the state Republican Party announced that South Carolina U.S. Senator Tim Scott would be headlining a rally next week “to keep Gulfport Conservative.” Keating’s campaign also rolled out various endorsements from key Republican leaders such as former Governor Haley Barbour, Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson, several state senators, along with various notable community and business leaders. In a commercial cut for Keating, Barbour said, “After Hurricane Katrina, there was a lot of work to do. That’s why I asked community leaders to be part of the Commission on Recover, Rebuilding and Renewal, to make the Coast better than ever. Hugh Keating was a big part of that effort.” Barbour said Keating has a proven record of helping Gulfport grow and succeed. As previously reported, Mississippi’s second largest city will elect a new mayor on June 3, ending a three-term run for Billy Hewes who has been at the helm of the Coast city since 2013. Hewes, a Republican, announced in May 2024 that he would not be seeking re-election, and has thrown his support behind Keating. Keating, an attorney at Dukes, Keating, Hatten, McRaney and Blum, previously served as President of the Mississippi Bar. He’s also served as Vice-President of the Gulfport Redevelopment Commission, President of the Mississippi Coast Crime Commission, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Leadership Gulf Coast. His Democratic opponent, Williams Barnes, is the owner and Vice President of Lockett-Williams Mortuary. Keating supporters have raised questions about her operation of the business, which until April of this year faced tax liens dating back to 2022 totaling over $60,000. Williams Barnes previously served in the House of Representatives for 10 years, before she resigned in 2022 to become the Policy Director for the Southern Poverty Law Center. SPLC’s PAC has also endorsed her mayoral campaign. While in the Legislature, Williams Barnes chaired the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus, which allowed her to pick up endorsements from prominent state Democrats in both chambers for her mayoral bid. (Original Article)

(View Video Here) GULFPORT, Miss. (WLOX) - With incumbent mayor Billy Hewes stepping down, a new face is destined for the Gulfport mayor’s office. Republican Hugh Keating and Democrat Sonya Williams Barnes are the remaining candidates in Gulfport. They attended a meet-and-greet event hosted by Go Gulfport on Thursday evening. The event focused on innovation and projects based around the city. Keating says innovation is a big focus of his campaign, along with more police officers, public parks, and better community relations. “All of those things collectively work together, so I intend to make sure everyone has an opportunity to be heard and that we build and work together,” said Keating. Sonya Williams Barnes also spoke with us about her campaign. She said the people of Gulfport face too many hurdles in their daily lives. Whether that be infrastructure issues, or a grueling process to welcome businesses to the city. She also emphasized her previous work history, saying it will help elevate her over her opponent. “I will listen. I come with a track record,” said Williams Barnes. “I have shown you what I have done in previous years. Just like I fought in Jackson, I will fight in City Hall for you.”  The election is on June 3.