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- Politics
- Yahoo
See who is running for redistricted seats in MS Legislature this year
Thirty candidates have submitted documents with the Mississippi Secretary of State's Office to run in 14 court-ordered special legislative elections later this year. Of the 14 races, 10 appear to be contested, according to an MSOS document listing the candidates. A federal three-judge panel last year ordered the Legislature to redraw its House and Senate districts in three areas because some districts were found to dilute Black voting power. After the Legislature submitted a new map, the NAACP, which filed the lawsuit in 2022 that lead to the court order, challenged it. The panel later accepted an amended version of the map impacting the Desoto County area. Candidates had until Monday at 5 p.m. to complete and file paperwork to run. The state Democratic and Republican Parties have until Friday at the same time to verify those candidates with MSOS. Four of the 10 contested races will be decided via a primary that will take place on Aug. 5 because the candidates are all of the same party, and the rest will be decided after the Nov. 4 special election day. Here is a list of those running in the 14 legislative districts This district now encompasses Tate and Desoto counties. Jon Steverson- Republican Michael McLendon-Republican incumbent Chris Hannah-Democrat This district is now in Tunica and Desoto counties. SD 2's incumbent, Sen. David Parker, R-Olive Branch, announced last week he will not be running in the special election. Kelly Lisa Andress-Democrat Theresa Gillespie Isom-Democrat Robert J. Walker-Democrat This district is now in Tunica and Walls counties. Kendall Prewitt- Republican Reginald Jackson- Incumbent Democrat Abe Hudson, Jr.-Democrat This district is now in Marshall and Desoto counties. Kevin Blackwell-Incumbent Republican Dianne Dodson Black- Democrat The district is now in Convington, Jasper and Jones counties. Juan Barnett- Incumbent Democrat The district is now in Convington, Lamar, Marion and Walthall counties. Joey Fillingane- Incumbent Republican The district is now in Forrest, Greene, Jones and Wayne counties Robin Robinson- Republican RJ Robinson- Republican Don Hartness- Republican This district is now in Forrest, Lamar and Perry counties. Chris Johnson- Incumbent Republican Patrick Lott- Republican Shakita T. Taylor- Democrat The district is now in Forrest and Lamar counties Anna Rush- Republican Johnny L. DuPree- Democratic The district is now in Chickasaw, Lee, Monroe and Pontotoc counties. Brady Davis- Democrat Ricky Thompson- Incumbent Democrat The district is now in Chickasaw, Clay and Monroe counties. Jon Lancaster- Incumbent Republican Justin Crosby- Democrat This district is now in Clay, Lowndes, Monroe and Oktibbeha counties. Karl Gibbs- Incumbent Democrat This district is now in Lowndes and Monroe counties. Dana McLean- Incumbent Republican The district is in Lowndes County. Kabir Karriem- Incumbent Democrat Pierre Beard- Democrat To find more information about voting data regarding the redrawn House and Senate districts, people can visit the Mississippi Automated Resource Information System website. Grant McLaughlin covers the Legislature and state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@ or 972-571-2335. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Who is running for redistricted seats in Mississippi Legislature
Associated Press
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Mississippi Senate passes redistricting that calls for 10 new elections
Voters from 10 Senate districts in Mississippi will have to re-decide in November special elections who should represent them in Jackson, pending court approval, under a resolution the Senate approved on Wednesday. The chamber passed the plan 33-16. Two Democrats joined with the GOP majority to support the plan, while three Republicans joined with the Democratic minority to oppose it. Even though voters just elected members of the Legislature in 2023, the 10 races will be held again because a three-judge federal panel determined last year that the Legislature did not create enough Black-majority districts when it redrew its districts. The panel ordered the state to redraw the districts and create a new majority-Black district in the DeSoto County area in the Forrest County area. Senate Rules Committee Chairman Dean Kirby, a Republican from Pearl, told senators that the newly redrawn map complies with federal law and will allow Black voters in the two areas to elect a candidate of their choice. 'It's not a partisan ordeal,' Kirby said. 'We have a court order, and we're going to comply.' The map creates one new majority-Black district each in DeSoto County and Forrest County, with no incumbent senator in either district. To account for this, the plan also pits two pairs of incumbents against one another in newly redrawn districts. The proposal puts Sen. Michael McLendon, a Republican from Hernando, who is white and Sen. Reginald Jackson, a Democrat from Marks, who is Black, in the same district. The redrawn District 1 contains a Black voting-age population of 52.4%. McLendon spoke against the proposal, arguing the process was not transparent and it was not fair to the city of Hernando, his home city. 'I don't want to be pushed out of here,' McLendon said. The plan also puts Sen. Chris Johnson and Sen. John Polk, two Republicans from the Hattiesburg area, in the District 44 seat. Polk announced on the Senate floor that he would not run in the special election, making Jonson the only incumbent running in the race. The full list of the Senate districts that were redrawn are: 1. Senate District 1: Sen. Michael McLendon, R-Hernando, and Sen. Reginald Jackson, D-Marks 2. Senate District 2: David Parker, R-Olive Branch 3. Senate District 10: Neil Whaley, R-Potts Camp 4. Senate District 11: New Senate district in DeSoto County with no incumbent 5. Senate District 19: Sen. Kevin Blackwell, R-Southaven 6. Senate District 34: Sen. Juan Barnett, D-Heidelburg 7. Senate District 41: Sen. Joey Fillingane, R-Sumrall 8. Senate District 42: Sen. Robin Robinson, R-Laurel 9. Senate District 44: Sen. John Polk, R-Hattiesburg, Sen. Chris Johnson, R-Hattiesburg 10. Senate District 45: New district in Lamar County with no incumbent McLendon and Sen. Derrick Simmons, a Democrat from Greenville, offered amendments that proposed revised maps, but both alternatives were rejected. Simmons, the Senate's Democratic leader, opposed the plan the Senate passed Thursday because he does not believe any incumbent senators should be paired in the same district. The House earlier in the session approved a plan that redrew five districts in north Mississippi and made the House district in Chickasaw County a majority-Black district. Sen. Kirby told reporters he believes the House and the Senate have a 'gentleman's agreement' to pass the other chambers' plan, which has historically been the custom. Under the legislation, the qualifying period for new elections would run from May 19 to May 30. The primary election will be held on August 5, with a potential primary runoff on September 2 and the general election on November 4. Republican Gov. Tate Reeves has no direct say in legislative redistricting, so once the Legislature passes a redistricting plan, it will go back before the federal courts for approval.
