The Democratic National Committee is stepping in to try to help candidates win special legislative elections being held in Mississippi next month.
On Thursday, the DNC announced a “historic investment” to support the Mississippi Democratic Party’s organizing efforts ahead of a general election on Nov. 4 that includes 14 seats. Primaries were held in August after a federal panel of judges ordered lawmakers to redraw House districts in the Chickasaw County area, along with Senate districts in the Hattiesburg and DeSoto County areas, that were diluting Black voting power.
While the announcement did not disclose exactly how much the DNC is investing in the races, chair Ken Martin said it’s a six-figure number. He said the money will be used to get in touch with more voters in a Republican-controlled state through on-the-ground efforts and paid programming like direct mail and TV advertisements, and getting ready for the 2026 midterms.
“When you organize everywhere, you can win everywhere – that is my mantra, and that’s why we’re investing six figures into Mississippi in an off-year,” Martin said. “At this DNC, we aren’t simply focused on battleground states or one single election cycle. We can chew gum while we walk, and that means building for both the short and long term by creating new opportunities for Democrats to win elections everywhere.”
Martin, who was elected as the DNC’s chair in February, is of the belief that Democrats have a fighting chance in Mississippi to represent on not only the state but also the federal level.
With both levels of the party recently getting behind Columbus-based District Attorney Scott Colom in his 2026 bid for U.S. Senate against Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith, Martin cited what he believes to be a growing distaste of President Donald Trump among Mississippi voters. He pointed to the recently-passed domestic policy package that cuts some taxes but also decreases Medicaid funding to the tune of around $1 trillion.
“As I say, there’s no such thing as a permanent red state,” Martin continued. “Voters across Mississippi know Republicans are weak and spineless after they cheered on Donald Trump’s agenda that kicks 110,000 Mississippians off their health insurance, pushes rural hospitals and nursing homes to the brink of closure, and raises families’ food and energy prices. With this major investment, the DNC is turbocharging Mississippi Democrats’ organizing efforts to win crucial legislative races this November and continue us on the road to a blue Mississippi.”
Cheikh Taylor, a state representative from Oktibbeha County who serves as chair of the Mississippi Democratic Party, commended the DNC for its refreshed effort.
“…I am both humbled and emboldened by the opportunity before us to win valuable election here in Mississippi. Our people deserve leaders who reflect their hopes, their struggles, and their dreams, and together, we are building the movement that can deliver,” Taylor said in a statement.
“I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Chairman Ken Martin for this unwavering support of Mississippi,” he continued. “Your steadfast commitment ensures that rural states like ours are not forgotten, but instead, have a strong seat at the table and the critical resources needed to give Mississippians the future we deserve.”
Of the 14 districts redrawn by lawmakers, seven of the general races are contested with a Democratic and Republican nominee. Three more seats, two in the Senate and one in the House, are also up for grabs with John Horhn and Orlando Paden, Jr. becoming mayors of Jackson and Clarksdale, respectively, and Greenwood’s David Jordan deciding to retire after over three decades in the capitol.
Absentee voting ahead of the special elections opened to eligible voters last week for both in-person and mail-in ballots. The deadline to register to vote or update registration information and still be able to participate in the elections is Monday, Oct. 6.
