NATCHEZ — Those who want to run for county and state office in this year’s upcoming election must qualify by 5 p.m. today.

Candidates for county offices must submit their qualifying papers to the Adams County Circuit Clerk’s office.

Candidates for state office must qualify with the state political party of their choice.

Independent candidates must submit a qualifying petition signed by a certain number of registered voters.

The office for which the candidate is running determines the number of signatures required. Signatures have to be certified by the circuit clerk before the qualifying deadline.

For the first time in years, Adams County incumbents are being challenged in nearly every election on the ballot. Adams County Coroner James Lee is the only incumbent who, as of Thursday, who will not face a challenger in the upcoming election.

Since Monday, five more candidates have qualified to run for office.

The most recent candidates to qualify:

*Wes Middleton filed to run as a Democrat for District 1 Adams County Supervisor.

*Wilbert Whittley filed to run as a Democrat for District 3 Adams County Supervisor.

*Warren Gaines Sr. filed to run as a Democrat for District 5 Adams County Supervisor.

*Eddie Jones filed to run as a Democrat for Northern District Justice Court Judge.

* Jim Smith filed to run as an independent candidate for Adams County Tax Collector.

Party primaries will be Aug. 6 and any necessary runoffs will be Aug. 27.

The general election will be Nov. 5 and any necessary runoffs will be Nov. 26.

Other candidates who have qualified so far this year include:

*For District 1 Adams County supervisor, incumbent Mike Lazarus, Democrat.

*For District 2 Adams County supervisor, incumbent David Carter, independent; Kevin Wilson, Republican.

*For District 3 Adams County supervisor, incumbent Angela Gibson Hutchins, Democrat; Brandon McCranie, independent.

*For District 4 Adams County supervisor, incumbent James “Rickey” Gray, Democrat; Jacquetta McCranie, independent.

*For District 5 Adams County supervisor, James H. Berry Jr., Democrat; David Lee Blanton, independent; incumbent Calvin Butler, Democrat; Cleotha Marsaw, Republican; Kelly Thompson, Democrat.

*For Adams County Sheriff: Jerry Ford, Democrat; Tom Grennell, Democrat; Adam Wyatt Kirk, independent; incumbent Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten, Democrat; Brian Seyfarth, independent.

*For Adams County Northern District Constable, Deselle “Mody” Davis, Democrat; incumbent constable Willie B. Jones, Democrat; Diania Walker, Democrat.

*For Adams County Southern District Constable, Randy Freeman, Democrat; Chris Allen Logan, Democrat.

*For Southern District Justice Court Judge, Danny Barber, Democrat; Lee Ford, Democrat; incumbent Eileen Mary Maher, Democrat.

*For Northern District Justice Court Judge, incumbent Patricia F. Dunmore, Democrat; Audrey B. Minor, Democrat.

*For Adams County Circuit Clerk, Daye Dearing, Democrat; Eva “E.J.” Givens, Democrat; Jennifer “Lady J.” Minor Johnson, Democrat; Charlie Vess, independent; Jason Wisner, Democrat.

*For Adams County Chancery Clerk, Jack Blaney, independent; incumbent Brandi B. Lewis, Democrat.

*For Adams County Coroner, incumbent James Lee, Democrat.

*Adams County Surveyor, Robert Dale Greene, Republican.

*For Adams County Tax Assessor, Douglas Atkins, Democrat; Larry L. Hughes, Democrat; Michael Pace, Democrat.

*Adams County Tax Collector, Rose Daniel Patterson, Democrat; Samuel Thomas, Democrat.

*For Adams County Prosecuting Attorney Lisa J. Chandler, Democrat; Lydia Roberta Blackmon, Democrat.