After Mississippi Stops, 2020 Presidential Candidates Emerge, Patrick Out

Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick was among potential Democratic presidential candidates who recently campaigned for Mike Espy in Mississippi, but now says he will not run, even as others who visited seem to be moving toward a candidacy.
Jackson Woman Joins Dem Race for Governor; State Rep Exploring GOP Race

Next week, Velesha P. Williams plans to officially join the race to become the Democratic Party's gubernatorial nominee, she announced in a Nov. 29 press release.
Black Women Weigh Hyde-Smith's Win, Say Not 'Senator for All'

While Cindy Hyde-Smith made history as the first woman from Mississippi elected to Congress, it is hard for some black women to celebrate strictly on the basis of gender.
OPINION: Young People Are Still Fired Up in Mississippi to Bring Change

Drowning in our sorrow is easy, but in Mike Espy's defeat, I am learning so much about the place I call home. I've learned why I should appreciate my surroundings and the people who occupy them, more than ever.
Mike Espy Files to Run Against Hyde-Smith in 2020 Rematch

On his 65th birthday, Democrat Mike Espy filed Friday morning to run for the U.S. Senate seat held by incumbent Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith when it is up again in 2020.
Mike Espy Came Closer to Senate Seat Than Any Dem Since 1982

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Espy did not win his bid for U.S. Senate in Tuesday night's special election, but he came closer than any Mississippi Democrat has in 36 years.
End Near for Racist Politics in Mississippi?

Wearing a long coat, she stood in front of a statue of Elvis Presley when she told the crowd that if her friend Colin Hutchinson "invited me to a public hanging, I would be on the front row."
Judicial Run-off: Black Women Lead Hinds Circuit; Bryant Choices Bomb

Hinds County voters had a harder decision to make than most on Nov. 27, with six judicial seats up for grabs alongside the hotly contested, historic U.S. Senate race that resulted in Mississippians electing the first woman to Congress in Cindy Hyde-Smith.
OPINION: Factchecking Hyde-Smith, She Lied About Pre-Existing Conditions

U.S. Senate candidate Mike Espy has campaigned on protecting health insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith has voted to destroy, repeal and deny that coverage in both the Mississippi Senate and the United States Senate.
OPINION: Cindy Hyde-Smith is Telling You Exactly Who She Is

In attempting to "apologize" for her offensive statements about being in the front row of a public hanging and her endorsement of voter suppression, Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith read her "apology" from cue cards saying, "I've never been hurtful to anyone," and alleged that her comments were twisted and taken out of context.
OPINION: Hello, Cindy, We See You on Women's Health and Abortion

These past weeks Cindy Hyde-Smith has done a great job of yelling "abortion, abortion, abortion" every chance she gets, but the truth is that abortion is not at issue here.
Full ‘Public Hanging’ Video Surfaces, Revealing More About Hyde-Smith’s Views

In extended footage released exclusively by the Jackson Free Press, the context of Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith’s now-infamous “public hanging” remarks becomes clearer, and the video sheds new light on the senator’s other views.
Hyde-Smith Attended All-White ‘Seg Academy’ to Avoid Integration

U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith attended and graduated from a segregation academy that were set up so that white parents could avoid having to send their children to schools with black students, a yearbook reveals.
Hinds County Judicial Runoff: Who’s Left, What Progress Can Be Made?

Although the nation waits with bated breath for the results of the U.S. Senate runoff between Cindy Hyde-Smith and Mike Espy, six judicial seats are still up for grabs in Hinds County. Candidates who did not receive 50 percent plus one on Election Day automatically go to the runoff ballot.
OPINION: Cindy Hyde-Smith's Words Are Unacceptable

When Cindy Hyde-Smith made the statement that she would attend a “public hanging,” her statements should have been universally condemned.
OPINION: Don’t Be the 'Good One’: White Supremacist ‘Jokes’ Are Call to Action

"Why aren't you laughing? Those are all jokes, right? Laugh, and join in the fun. After all, our national leaders just say these things to amuse themselves and their supporters, right?"
Jackson City Council: 'No Confidence’ in Cindy Hyde-Smith as Senator

Less than a half hour after U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and her runoff opponent, Mike Espy, finished a closed-door debate, the Jackson City Council voted 4-1 for a symbolic showing of “no confidence” in Mississippi’s first woman in Congress.
OPINION: Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith Lives in a Bubble of White Privilege

"I recognize the advantages my white privilege gave me. It doesn’t define me. It gave me an opportunity to be successful in life that I had to take advantage of and use wisely."
Cory Booker Rallies USM Students for Espy

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, a likely 2020 presidential candidate, traveled to Mississippi on Monday to campaign for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Espy.
Hyde-Smith Demanded No Audience, No Press for Tonight’s Debate

U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith demanded there be no audience or outside press allowed at tonight’s U.S. Senate debate and requested other restrictions, a source familiar with the debate negotiations told the Jackson Free Press Tuesday morning.
Hyde-Smith Accepts $2,700 Donation from Notorious White Supremacist

U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith accepted a donation from Peter Sieve, a businessman in Washington state known for his white supremacist views, just days after a video published by Bayou Brief surfaced in which she says she would be “on the front row” if a supporter invited her to “a public hanging.”
Republicans Call Espy ‘Sexist’ for Saying He’s Better for Women

Incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith accused her Democratic opponent, Mike Espy, of sexism and “mansplaining” after he told supporters he would be a better U.S. senator for women.
Mississippians Call for Hyde-Smith to Resign at Protests Following Videos

“A lot of the students who aren’t from Mississippi, from out north or out west, they’re like, ‘Really? Your public officials would say something like that?’ So they’re energized. People in Mississippi are energized because I believe they believe enough is enough.”
OPINION: An Open Letter to Christians of Good Conscience: We Are Not 'Ridiculous'

Mississippi is a state steeped and stained with a dark history of racial prejudice and violence towards African Americans.
Hyde-Smith in New Video: Make Voting ‘More Difficult’ for People in ‘Those Schools’

In a newly surfaced video, U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith suggests making it “more difficult” for people in certain schools to vote.
Activists to Call for Hyde-Smith's Resignation at Friday Protest

Mississippi Matters, a coalition of activists and organizations, plans to call for U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith's resignation at a protest outside her Jackson office Friday at noon.
Google Donates $5,000 to Cindy Hyde-Smith Amid 'Hanging' Firestorm

Tech giant Google donated $5,000 to U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, even as she courted national outrage for her comment about attending a "public hanging."
Espy on Mississippi Stereotypes, Public Schools and Immigration at Jackson Forum

U.S. Senate candidate Mike Espy addressed Jacksonians at a community forum on Nov. 14 where he expounded upon and set the record straight about his stances, including his response to viral "public hanging" comments from his competitor, incumbent U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith.
OPINION: Why The History of Lynching Is No Laughing Matter

"A 'public hanging' solicited the worst images of black men and women swinging like strange fruit from sycamore trees while dozens or hundreds of white, mostly Christian, men and women congregated to point and smile with glee."
The Right, and Wrong, Way to Change the Mississippi Flag

It's hard to know whether it cost him votes, but there was a moment during Mississippi Rep. David Baria's unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. Senate that caused a surprised buzz around a state where the conventional wisdom is that criticizing odes to the Confederacy is a political death knell.
EDITOR'S NOTE: GOP Leaders, Stop Disrespecting Black Mississippians

Dear Mississippi Republican leaders: Like much of the recent 40 years, your actions toward African Americans in our state in the last 10 days have been atrocious.
Espy to Join Hyde-Smith for Debate As 'Hanging' Backlash Grows

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Espy has accepted an invitation to join incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., for a runoff debate that will be broadcast across the state live on Nov. 20.
Governor Calls Abortion ‘Black Genocide,’ Defends Hyde-Smith on ‘Hanging’ Tape

As state and national controversy swirls around U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith’s comment about a public hanging” in her race against an African American opponent, Gov. Phil Bryant opened a press conference this morning implying that black women are participating in “the genocide of 20 million African American children” through legal abortions
Hyde-Smith’s ‘Public Hanging’ Quip Bombs in State with Most Lynchings

Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith lit up social media Sunday morning after a video clip in which she jokingly says she would be “on the front row” at “a public hanging.”
Hyde-Smith Accepts Debate Invite With McDaniel Out; Espy Considering

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., has accepted an invitation Mississippi Farm Bureau to debate her runoff opponent, Democrat Mike Espy, on Nov. 27.
Hinds Judicial Races, Court of Appeals Likely Headed to Runoff

Candidates for various Hinds County and statewide judicial roles appeared on Tuesday's ballot alongside U.S. Senate and congressional candidates. Just before midnight on election night, Hinds County released unofficial results after counting 109 of 110 precincts, or 99.09 percent of the vote.
Mississippi's 3rd District Stays GOP, Incumbents Win

Mississippians in the 3rd District elected a Republican district attorney as the state's newest member of Congress on Tuesday, choosing Michael Guest of Brandon over Democratic state Rep. Michael Ted Evans of Preston.
Baria Proud of Progressive Effort; Wicker Headed Back to Washington Again

Mississippi Democratic House Minority Leader David Baria's chances to unseat incumbent U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker came to an end at just after 8 p.m. on election night—an hour after Mississippi polls closed.
Espy, Hyde-Smith Head to Nov. 27 Runoff with McDaniel Out

In a historic contest, Democrat Mike Espy will face incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in a runoff on Nov. 27 after the two candidates snagged the top two positions in Tuesday's election.
Mississippi Voters Turned Away in Historic Civil-Rights Community

A polling location in Philadelphia, Miss., turned nearly a dozen people away from voting this morning because poll workers didn’t have enough back-up paper ballots after a snafu with voting machines.
Gov. Bryant Fights for His Legacy with Support for Hyde-Smith

In the final day before the election, Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant urged Republicans to support Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, pushing back against the idea that he was part of the "establishment."
Evers-Williams Endorses Espy: Don't Let 'Our Souls Be Dragged Back'

Civil rights leader Myrlie Evers-Williams endorsed Democrat Mike Espy's bid for U.S. Senate in a radio ad his campaign released Monday, calling on Mississippians to help stave off a return to the past in tomorrow's election.
Hyde-Smith, Wicker Voted to Expand Pre-existing Illness Discrimination

In a press huddle on Nov. 1, U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith said she had not cast "a single vote" to allow health-insurance companies to sell plans that discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions, but the Republican incumbent cast a vote last month that did just that.
Tougaloo College Rally Reminds Students that Black Voters Matter

The Friday before Election Day, the People's Advocacy Institute, MS M.O.V.E. and Black Voters Matter descended upon Tougaloo College to get students excited about voting right there on their historic campus Tuesday, as the college is a poll site.
GOP Mailers Misleadingly Paint Espy as a Criminal

A series of campaign mailers the Mississippi Republican Party sent out around the state this week misleadingly paint Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Espy as a "corrupt" criminal for charges he was fully acquitted of in the 1990s.
Mississippi Elections: What You Need to Know

On. Nov. 6, the same day as the national midterms, voters choose between Democrat Mike Espy, Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith and Republican Chris McDaniel in a U.S. Senate special election; there will be no partisan identifications on the ballot for the special.
UPDATED: Who's on the Ballot in Mississippi in 2018?

This year will be an entertaining ride for Mississippi voters, who will have elect all four congressional representatives as well as two senators to represent the state in Washington, D.C.
The JFP Interview with David Baria: 'I Am Who I Am'

David Baria, the man who currently serves as the House minority leader in the Mississippi Legislature, shared his story, his plans for Mississippi, and why he thinks he can move the state forward.
OPINION: American Radicalization in the Roaming MAGA Mosque

How did we let it get to this point in our country? When did the loyal opposition become the enemy of the people? Why have hate and grievance drowned out civility and hope?
EDITOR'S NOTE: Vote for Decency, a Better Mississippi on Nov. 6

As perhaps the most important Election Day in our lifetime looms on Tuesday, Nov. 6, I'm not going to tell you how you should vote.
Mabus Endorses Baria to 'Bring Civility and Honor Back to Politics'

Calling next week's election "one of the most important elections of my life," former Mississippi Gov. Ray Mabus endorsed fellow Democrat David Baria's bid for U.S. Senate.
Palazzo Inflames 'Caravan' Fears Despite Weekend Synagogue Tragedy

Congressman Steven Palazzo, R-Miss., sought to rile up supporters over a "migrant caravan" en route to the U.S. in an email sent just a day after a 47-year-old white supremacist— driven by a conspiracy belief that Jews are behind the caravan—committed the deadliest anti-Semitic mass murder in U.S. history.
GOP Mega-Donor Implicated in Russia Probe Gives McDaniel $500,000 Boost

Mississippi State Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ellisville, received a $500,000 donation for his campaign for U.S. Senate thanks to GOP mega-donor Robert Mercer, the investor behind a firm that harvested the data of 50 million Facebook users during the 2016 election.
Mississippi Leaders Condemn Bomb Attempts

Gov. Phil Bryant and other Mississippi leaders from both sides of the aisle offered condemnation after an unknown person mailed bombs to national Democratic leaders on Wednesday.
Espy Defends McDaniel Supporters Against Wrongly Attributed 'Horrific' Remark

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Espy on Monday drew a comparison between U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton for comments her spokesperson made about a rival candidate's supporters.
UPDATED: GOP Tracker Impersonates JFP Reporter at Espy Event, Campaign Says; PAC Denies

A tracker apparently working for the right-wing America Rising PAC impersonated a Jackson Free Press reporter at a campaign event Friday, campaign staff for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Espy says. Both the tracker and the PAC deny it.
GOP Opponent Scared to Debate, Dem House Rival Charges

As a debate over the absence of debates roils Mississippi's U.S. Senate races, a candidate for the U.S. House wants to know why his Republican opponent will not debate him.
Medgar Evers' Niece Confronts McDaniel on 'Begging for Scraps' Comment

Wanda Evers, the niece of slain Mississippi civil-rights leader Medgar Evers, confronted Republican U.S. Senate candidate Chris McDaniel at an Oct. 13 campaign event in Clinton, Miss., about comments he made on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."
Baria Donations Top All Dem Nominees in Mississippi Since 2008

David Baria raised more money than any Mississippi Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate since 2008, fundraising numbers released on Tuesday reveal.
Of Race and Republicans: The JFP Interview With Chris McDaniel

Chris McDaniel discussed not only his ideas on race and flags, but also on other timely matters like sexual assault, tariffs and criminal-justice reform in an interview with the Jackson Free Press on Oct. 9.
Video Captures Hyde-Smith Equating Debate to a $200,000 Donation to McDaniel

In a secretly videoed conversation, U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., said her reluctance to join her opponents for a debate is due to her fear that it would give one of them—Republican Chris McDaniel—free publicity.
Hyde-Smith: 'We Won't Be Bullied' by McDaniel's Debate Demands

Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith's campaign pushed back against opponent Chris McDaniel's renewed calls for a debate on Friday, accusing the Mississippi state senator and his supporters of "uncivil" and "horrific" behavior.
Hyde-Smith Calls Kavanaugh Opposition 'Evil'

U.S. Sen. Cindy-Hyde Smith, R-Miss., continued to defend her support for the confirmation of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh on Tuesday, accusing Democrats of "manipulation of the confirmation process" and "a disservice to victims of sexual violence" in a tweet.
Hyde-Smith Accuses Dems of 'Disservice to Victims of Sexual Violence'

Accusing Democrats of a "disservice to victims of sexual violence," U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., voted to advance the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court Friday morning.
Mississippi Election Information

On. Nov. 6, the same day as the national midterms, voters choose between Democrat Mike Espy, Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith and Republican Chris McDaniel in a U.S. Senate special election; there will be no partisan identifications on the ballot for the special.
Jeramey Anderson: ‘I’m a Democrat’

Moss Point native Jeramey Anderson is a black millennial and progressive Democrat who, in 2013, became the youngest African American elected to any state legislature in U.S. history.
John Lewis: Vote for Espy or Risk Being 'Dragged Into the Past'

Rep. John Lewis, a famous civil-rights activist and a Georgia congressman, urged Mississippi voters to support Democrat Mike Espy's U.S. Senate campaign in a Sept. 25 email.
Mike Espy: Hyde-Smith is ‘Irresponsible’ and ‘Wrong’ on Kavanaugh

U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith drew fire from her Democratic rival, former U.S. Sec. of Agriculture Mike Espy, for her position on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, who faces allegations of sexual assault.
Mike Espy Pulls out of U.S. Senate Debate in Jackson, Citing ‘Hypocrisy’

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Espy has pulled out of an Oct. 4 debate in Jackson because the incumbent, Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, will not attend.
‘Believe Survivors,’ Baria Tells Wicker and Hyde-Smith on Kavanaugh Vote

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate David Baria, who serves as the House minority leader in the Mississippi Legislature, called for halt in the process to confirm U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh after the Senate’s Sept. 27 hearings on sexual assault allegations.
Hyde-Smith: Defending Kavanaugh Is ‘My Duty’ as a Woman in Congress

While addressing the Senate floor for the first time, Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith defended Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, after a third woman accused the judge of sexual misconduct earlier today.
‘Killing Unborn Children’ Point of Kavanaugh Accusations, McDaniel Claims

The women accusing U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault are part of a “charade” to keep abortion legal, U.S. Senate candidate Chris McDaniel of Mississippi claimed in a series of tweets Monday.
Trump to Campaign with Hyde-Smith in North Mississippi

The Cindy Hyde-Smith for U.S. Senate campaign announced on Tuesday that President Donald Trump will join her for a rally in north Mississippi on Oct. 2.
Espy Says Ford Allegations ‘Credible’ as Gov. Patrick Endorses Him

Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick announced his support for Democrat Mike Espy’s candidacy in Mississippi’s U.S. Senate special election at a Hattiesburg press conference on Saturday.
Deval Patrick to Join Mike Espy in Hattiesburg Saturday

Former Democratic Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick will campaign with Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Espy on Friday, Sept. 21, in downtown Hattiesburg.
Ron Paul Endorses Chris McDaniel for Cochran's U.S. Senate Seat

Former Texas Congressman Ron Paul urged voters to elect "courageous leaders" like Mississippi State Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ellisville, "to stand up to the establishment in Washington" in an endorsement McDaniel's campaign announced via press release Wednesday.
‘It Only Matters What You Answer To’: The JFP Interview with Mike Espy

Mike Espy has neither sought nor served in public office since 1994; this year's U.S. Senate special election marks Espy's re-entry into politics as he runs in the special election for the seat formerly held by his friend, Republican Sen. Thad Cochran.
Hyde-Smith: McDaniel's 'Toxic Image' Similar to Roy Moore's

Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith is criticizing her opponent, State Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ellisville, for recent comments she says "demeaned" black Mississippians and a history of "derogatory" comments about women.
U.S. Senate Race: Baria Announces 12 Town Hall Candidate Forums

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate David Baria, who is challenging incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker for his seat, announced 12 town-hall-style candidate forums "where voters will have the opportunity to directly questions to the candidates" in a press release Tuesday.
Historic Victory for Espy in Mississippi Is 'Not An Illusion,' George Will Says

Democrat Mike Espy could be the next U.S. senator from Mississippi, renowned conservative columnist George Will wrote in a Sept. 5 piece in the Washington Post.
Trump Cancels Mississippi Rally to Boost Cindy Hyde-Smith Campaign

President Donald Trump plans to hold a rally in Mississippi to support incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith as she fights to hold the seat that Gov. Phil Bryant appointed her to in April.
Making ‘Black Voters Matter’ in the Deep South

LaTosha Brown, who co-founded Black Voters Matter, stopped in Jackson on Aug. 24, 2018 to network with black women as part of her organization’s “The South is Rising Tour.”
McDaniel Cites Kinship with Bernie Sanders, Ronald Reagan at Petal Rally

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey appointed former Sen. Jon Kyl to fill the late John McCain's U.S. Senate seat on Tuesday, but said he has only committed to serve until the end of the year.
Black Mississippi Mayors Endorse Espy at Civil Rights Museum

Nearly a dozen black mayors from cities and towns throughout Mississippi took the stage Thursday afternoon at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum to endorse Mike Espy in his campaign for the U.S. Senate seat Thad Cochran vacated in March.
McDaniel Embraces Trump's Trade Agenda, Criticizes 'Free Trade' 'Capitalists'

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Chris McDaniel endorsed President Donald Trump's trade agenda Wednesday, taking aim at opponent Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and "the capitalists who've been championing so-called 'free trade.'"
U.S. Senate Hopefuls McDaniel, Baria Explain Votes Against Lottery

Mississippi House of Representatives Minority Leader Rep. David Baria, D-Bay St. Louis, and State Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ellisville, both voted against a state lottery bill lawmakers sent to the governor's desk Tuesday.
'Run, Jim, Run': AG Hood on Race for Governor, Women Empowerment

Women for Progress of Mississippi hosted a women's issues forum called "She is Running," where Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood offered remarks about the role of women in his prosecutorial career.
Aiming for Alabama-like Victory, Espy Opens ‘Modern’ Campaign Headquarters

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Espy announced what he called “the most modern headquarters that I think any Democrat has had in Mississippi’s history” at a ceremony for the opening of his new Jackson campaign office Saturday, Aug. 25.
McDaniel Rages Against the GOP After Trump Endorses Hyde-Smith

JACKSON — Republican Mississippi State Sen. Chris McDaniel raged at his own party on Thursday after President Donald Trump endorsed his opponent, incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, in the special election for her U.S. Senate seat.
Karl Rove Helps Sen. Wicker Raise $5,000 Per Couple at Private Jackson Dinner

Karl Rove, the political strategist and senior adviser to President George W. Bush, helped raise campaign funds for Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker at the home of Cissye and Billy Mounger in north Jackson on Aug. 18.
Busting Chris McDaniel’s Confederate Myths

Mississippi State Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ellisville, spent the early months of his 2014 Republican primary bid for U.S. Senate downplaying his ties to neo-Confederate groups.
Sen. Chris McDaniel Blasts 'Snowflake Stalkers' After Lee Poll Backfires

Mississippi State Sen. Chris McDaniel derided critics as "snowflake stalkers" Sunday after his tweet about Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and a follow-up poll went awry.
Signs of Danger for GOP in Polls of Mississippi's U.S. Senate Race

The race in Mississippi for the seat that U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran vacated in April is functionally tied between Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democrat Mike Espy, a leaked GOP poll from Hyde-Smith's campaign found.
Baria: 'My Son Will Feel Pain' When He Looks At Mississippi's Flag

The people of Mississippi have "a duty to acknowledge that hatred and racism remain alive and well in America today," Mississippi State Rep. David Baria, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday.
Delbert Hosemann Will Seek Higher Office; Not Running for Re-election

Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann drew boos from a crowd of supporters on Wednesday at the Neshoba County Fair in Philadelphia, Miss., when he announced he would not run for for re-election, but he quickly calmed them by teasing another possibility.
ABC News: Race to Replace Sen. Thad Cochran 'Could Reshape Washington'

The race to decide who will win Mississippi's U.S. Senate seat that Thad Cochran vacated is one of the "races that could reshape Washington and the country," ABC News said Monday.
Espy: Trump Tariffs Hurt Mississippi Farmers; Opponents Dodge Issue

President Donald Trump's tariffs on China are hurting Mississippi farmers, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Espy said in a press conference at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum on Friday.
Cory Booker: U.S. Senate Hopeful Mike Espy Is South's Rising Star

"That is the star that I see rising in the South," U.S. Sen. Cory Booker said of former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy. "That is the hope that this nation must have in Washington, D.C. And God willing, the people of Mississippi willing, we will have Mike Espy as the next United States senator."
Sherman Alleges Dirty Politics, As Baria Claims Solid Victory in Senate Bid

With his family by his side, Rep. David Baria, leader of the Mississippi House Democratic Caucus, declared victory in his bid for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, at Murky Waters in Gulfport, on Tuesday night after the announcement of the results of the primary run-off.
Guest Wins Run-Off: 'All I Can Say is Thank You'

The celebratory atmosphere filled Mudbugs in Brandon—even before the primary run-off results came in. The crowd knew their candidate, Michael Guest, would win the Republican nomination for the Third U.S. Congressional District, and he did.
David Baria Wins Senate Runoff: 'I Ain't Scared' to Face Wicker in November

With his family by his side, Rep. David Baria, leader of the Mississippi House Democratic Caucus, declared victory in his bid for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate Tuesday night.
UPDATE: Run-off Issues: What Candidates Support, Believe; Vote Today Until 7 p.m.

Two spots on the November ballot are up for grabs today, as Mississippians head to the polls for a run-off election.
Low Turnout Expected for June 26 Run-Off Election, Secretary of State Predicts

The run-off election on June 26 likely will have low turnout, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said at a press conference on June 21.
Run-Off Blues: Inside the Playoff to Challenge Roger Wicker

Democratic U.S. Senate contenders David Baria and Howard Sherman share a common interest in basketball, at least for campaign metaphor purposes.
'Thinking Out of the Box': The JFP Interview with Howard Sherman

Howard Sherman won the most votes (about 31 percent) on June 5 in the Democratic primary for Sen. Roger Wicker's Senate seat.
'I Don't Mind Long Odds': The JFP Interview with David Baria

David Baria knew he was fighting an uphill battle when he decided to run for U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker's long-held Senate seat. Baria's first challenge, however, is securing the Democratic spot on the November ballot.
Whit Hughes: 'Ready to Fight' in Congress

In a recent interview with the Jackson Free Press, Whit Hughes did not veer far from the established Republican line his mentor Haley Barbour made popular—low taxes, scant regulations (including on guns), no abortion rights, and less reliance on federal educational standards.
UPDATED: Rep. Thompson Returns Sherman Donation; Will Endorse Baria

David Baria and Howard Sherman have both donated to federal election campaigns. Baria has donated to strictly Democratic campaigns, while Sherman has donated to Republicans and recently, Democrats.
Off To The Races: Mississippi Elections 2018

Mississippians will soon head to the polls for a federal election for the first time since Donald Trump became president in 2016. On Tuesday, June 5, registered voters can choose a ballot for either the Republican or Democratic primary election.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Midterm Madness Comes to Mississippi

Editor-in-Chief Donna Ladd and Publisher Todd Stauffer started Best of Jackson almost 16 years ago to uplift the city because back then it was in a bad place, much worse than it is now.
Candidate Questionnaire: Richard Boyanton

Richard Boyanton is challenging Roger Wicker for his Senate seat in the primary election on June 5.
Candidate Questionnaire: Roger Wicker

Sen. Roger Wicker is the incumbent for his own Senate seat, which he has held since 2007. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives before then.
Candidate Questionnaire: David Baria

David Baria, a longtime state lawmaker, has set his sights on D.C. with a run for Sen. Roger Wicker’s Senate seat; his first challenge will be the crowded Democratic primary in June.
Candidate Questionnaire: Jensen Bohren

Jensen Bohren is running in the crowded Democratic primary race for the Senate; he is running on being a “true left-leaning” candidate.
Candidate Questionnaire: Jerone Garland

Jerone Garland, a Kosciusko native, is running in a crowded race of Democrats, who want to replace Sen. Roger Wicker in the Senate.
Candidate Questionnaire: Victor Maurice Jr.

Victor Maurice Jr. is one of six Democratic candidates running in the Senate primary election on June 5.
Candidate Questionnaire: Howard Sherman

Howard Sherman, an investor and husband to actress Sela Ward, is running as a Democrat in the crowded primary for Sen. Roger Wicker’s seat.
Candidate Questionnaire: Michael Aycox

Michael Aycox is challenging Rep. Michael Ted Evans in the Democratic primary race to become the District 3 Representative in Congress.
Candidate Questionnaire: Michael Ted Evans

Rep. Michael Ted Evans will face Michael Aycox in the June 5 primary to be the Democratic challenger in the District 3 race to fill Rep. Gregg Harper’s seat in the House of Representatives.
Candidate Questionnaire: Sally Doty

State Sen. Sally Doty is the only current politician in the Republican race to represent District 3 in Congress; she faces a crowded primary on June 5.
Candidate Questionnaire: Morgan Dunn

Morgan Dunn is a local business owner and health care business consultant running to replace Rep. Gregg Harper in the House of Representatives.
Candidate Questionnaire: Michael Guest

Michael Guest, the district attorney for Madison and Rankin Counties, is running to replace Rep. Gregg Harper to represent District 3 in Congress.
Candidate Questionnaire: Perry Parker

Perry Parker, an investor and cattle farmer from Seminary, is running to replace Gregg Harper in the House of Representatives.
Candidate Questionnaire: Katherine 'Bitzi' Tate

Katherine Tate has not raised any campaign finances and is running on a campaign against federal intervention—particularly in schools.
Candidate Questionnaire: Steven Palazzo

Congressman Steven Palazzo, who has been in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2011. He has a primary election challenger in Republican Brian Rose, who supports term limits.
Candidate Questionnaire: Randy Mack Wadkins

Randy Wadkins does not have a primary election challenger, and he is the only Democrat challenging Republican Rep. Trent Kelly in November to represent District 1 in Congress.
Candidate Questionnaire: Jeramey Anderson

Jeramey Anderson, one of the youngest lawmakers in the Mississippi Legislature, is challenging whoever wins the Republican primary in June to represent District 4 in November. He does not have a primary challenger.
Candidate Questionnaire: Bennie Thompson

Congressman Bennie Thompson, the only Democratic representative in Congress for Mississippi, has no primary election challengers, and no Republicans are running for his seat.