For the first time in over 100 years the Republican Party will control the Mississippi House of Representatives, in addition to the State Senate and seven of the eight statewide offices. It’s been the same time span since District 28, which encompasses parts of Bolivar, Sunflower and Washington Counties, has been held by a Republican.

That all changed Tuesday night.

The Cleveland Current is calling the winner of the race in favor of lifetime law enforcement officer Tommy Taylor, who was winning with 52 percent of the vote, not counting paper ballots. Up by 195 votes with only 166 paper ballots left in the three counties to be tabulated, the Current has decided it’s impossible for Democratic opponent David Dallas to make up the difference.

The final paper ballots will be counted tomorrow, beginning at 4 p.m.

Taylor was excited about the victory and said it has been a long road since he announced his intentions for office earlier this year.

“I knew I was up against a wall,” he said about the difficulty of running in a seat historically held by Democrats. “I knew one of my arms was tied this whole election. But I had some good people on the ground and good people in the background. People believed in me.”

Taylor said he had never had intentions for running for public office until a year ago when he was still working as warden of the Bolivar County Regional Correctional Facility.

“I was looking at the state of the nation and state of the economy and felt like we needed to tighten the reins on wasteful spending,” he said, mentioning as warden he was very familiar with governmental budgets.

As far as the race, Taylor summed it up with one word — admirable.

“I have seen races a whole lot worse,” he admitted. “That’s politics.”

He said the three initiatives — personhood, voter I.D., and eminent domain — helped bring out voters, but he thinks people were looking for a leader in Jackson on their behalf.

“In order for us to get a shot in the foot here in the Delta, in some form or fashion, you have to be in a position to get things accomplished,” he said. “The party that’s in the majority is the one that’s going to be having the say-so. Just by winning this election (as a Republican), I feel like I can get my chair under the table with the leaders of the state.”

Hilda Povall, chair of the Bolivar County Republican Party, was elated over the outcome of the race.

“Tommy Taylor will be a great representative and spokesperson for our community,” she said. “He’s lived here his entire life and he knows what he needs to do to make the Delta vibrant once more.”

As of Friday, Dallas had yet to concede the race, saying “I’m looking forward to getting the final results.”

He, too, said it’s been a long journey.

“This whole campaign has been a lot of fun,” he said. “I came back to Mississippi because I love this place. I worked with John Stennis and I know what a Statesman is. I know what it takes to be one.”

As for his opponent, Dallas added, “Tommy Taylor ran and effective and efficient campaign.”

Dallas campaign supporter John Cox thanked the people who came out in support of the campaign and said he, too, is anxious to see the final results.

“Tommy’s campaign was well-run,” he added. “If Tommy is the ultimate winner I wish him the best of luck in the future.”