Special legislative elections are happening in some parts of Mississippi, with voters asked to head to the polls on Tuesday, November 4.
A majority of seats on ballots stem from a federal order that lawmakers redraw House districts in the Chickasaw County area, along with Senate districts in the Hattiesburg and DeSoto County areas, after it was determined that the previously used maps diluted Black voting power. The new maps resulted in elections for 14 seats. Primaries were held in August with the deciding generals soon to be underway.
Three additional seats – one in the House and two in the Senate – were left vacant by now-Clarksdale Mayor Orlando Paden, now-Jackson Mayor John Horhn, and Greenwood’s David Jordan, who’s retiring after 32 years in the legislature. Unlike the seats hinging on the federal order, the candidates in these races are not under party labels until being sworn in and could be forced into a Dec. 2 runoff if no one nabs more than 50% of the vote.
Of the 17 legislative seats on Tuesday ballots, seven are uncontested. The following are already set to take office come January:
- Democratic Rep. Rickey Thompson in House District 16 (Chickasaw, Lee, Monroe, and Pontotoc counties) defeated Brady Davis in the primary and is unopposed in the general.
- Democratic Rep. Karl Gibbs in House District 36 (Clay, Lowndes, Monroe, and Oktibbeha counties) was unopposed in the primary and remains unopposed in the general.
- Republican Rep. Dana McLean in House District 39 (Lowndes and Monroe counties) was unopposed in the primary and remains unopposed in the general.
- Democratic Rep. Kabir Karriem in House District 41 (Lowndes County) defeated Pierre Beard in the primary and is unopposed in the general.
- Democratic Sen. Juan Barnett in Senate District 34 (Covington, Jasper, and Jones counties) was unopposed in the primary and remains unopposed in the general.
- Republican Sen. Joey Fillingane in Senate District 41 (Covington, Lamar, Marion, and Walthall counties) was unopposed in the primary and remains unopposed in the general.
- Republican Don Hartness in Senate District 42 (Forrest, Greene, Jones, and Wayne counties) unseated Sen. Robin Robinson in the primary and is unopposed in the general.
As for the 10 seats with competition, here’s what to know about each.
House District 22 (Chickasaw, Clay, and Monroe counties)
Incumbent Jon Lancaster, who flipped from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party in 2021, is looking to retain a seat he’s held since 2020. During the 2025 session, he served on various committees and was vice chair of the House Public Utilities Committee. He made headlines by authoring a bill to allow homeschooled children to play public-school sports, and while the “Tim Tebow Act” passed the House, it failed in the Senate.
Democrat Justin Crosby will try to unseat Lancaster on a platform he says will “bring real opportunity home to District 22.” Issues he’s focused on include expanding Medicaid, early voting, criminal justice reform, and economic development.
It is worth noting that Crosby was one of several candidates across the state who was late to file their campaign finance report, according to the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office.
House District 26 (Bolivar, Coahoma, and Sunflower counties)
Like Senate District 24 and Senate District 26, this race is nonpartisan. The seat was formerly held by Orlando Paden, now serving as mayor of Clarksdale. In alphabetical order, by last name, the following candidates are running.
Mary Frances Dear-Moton is the founder of the Family and Youth Opportunities Division nonprofit and serves on the Coahoma Community College Board of Trustees. Her platform includes strengthening public education, expanding broadband access, improving infrastructure, expanding Medicaid, and creating summer job programs for youth.
Kim Seals is a former educator whose platform includes teacher pay raises and more funding, and resources inside classrooms. She also aims to improve infrastructure and create more high-paying jobs.
Otha Williams III is a work-based learning coordinator at Coahoma Community College. His platform includes improving infrastructure, strengthening public schools and public safety, and expanding access to healthcare.
Senate District 1 (DeSoto and Tate counties)
Incumbent Sen. Michael McLendon, a Republican, is once again vying for the seat he’s held since 2020. During the 2024 session, McLendon chaired the State Library Committee and vice chaired the Insurance Committee. McLendon’s current platform is that he’s running “against the machine.” He defeated former Alabama football player and DeSoto Economic Development Council board member Jon Stevenson in the primary.
It is worth noting that McLendon was one of several candidates across the state who failed to file their campaign finance report before the Oct. 28 deadline, according to the Mississippi Secretary of State’s website.
Running against McLendon is Democrat Chris Hanna. Hanna is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and farmer from Hernando. Issues he’s focused on include pay raises for teachers and law enforcement, Medicaid and Medicare funding, and reducing crime.
Senate District 2 (DeSoto and Tate counties)
The District 2 post will have a new occupant following the retirement of Republican Sen. David Parker. Southaven Ward 2 Alderman Charlie Hoots is working to keep the seat red, running unopposed in the primary. He was also unopposed in his most recent bid for alderman and has touted his role in boosting law enforcement efforts and building new recreational facilities.
Running against Hoots is Theresa Isom, a nurse, educator, and healthcare administrator. She wants to strengthen Mississippi’s public schools and boost wages for the working class. Isom defeated Robert Walker in the Democratic primary.
Senate District 11 (Coahoma, DeSoto, Quitman, Tate, and Tunica counties)
Incumbent Sen. Reginald Jackson, a Democrat, is looking to represent District 11 for another term after beating former state Rep. Abe Hudson Jr. in the primary. Having most recently served as vice chair of the State Library Committee while maintaining membership on a list of other committees, Jackson plans to continue championing causes that benefit the Mississippi Delta, workers, and educational outcomes.
Aiming to flip the seat red is Kendall Prewett. Prewett, who’s received an endorsement from former Gov. Phil Bryant, says on his website that he wants to decrease the “size and scope of bureaucratic government agencies.” He’s also an advocate for government transparency and Second Amendment rights and a staunch opponent of abortion.
It is worth noting that Prewett was one of several candidates across the state who were late to file their campaign finance reports, according to the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office.
Senate District 19 (DeSoto County)
Incumbent Sen. Kevin Blackwell, a Republican, is looking to retain a seat he’s held since 2016. Blackwell has been a major crafter of health-related policies through his position as chair of the Senate Medicaid Committee. He also played a vital role in creating Mississippi’s medical cannabis program and advocating for a new way to fully fund K-12 public schools.
Blackwell will once again meet Dianne Black in the general election. Black has lost prior bids for state House in 2023 and U.S. House in 2022 and 2024. She lost to Blackwell in a 2019 state Senate race by nearly 28 points.
Hoping to finally get into office, Black is running on a platform that includes expanding Medicaid and early voting. She’s an Olive Branch-based cosmetologist who works for local NAACP and Democratic women’s chapters.
Senate District 24 (Leflore, Panola, and Tallahatchie counties)
Whoever wins this race will have big shoes to fill, as Sen. David Jordan served in the legislature for 32 years before deciding to retire. Like House District 26 and Senate District 26, this race is nonpartisan. In alphabetical order, by last name, the following candidates are running.
Curressia M. Brown is a retired education administrator who formerly served as chair of the Mississippi Valley State University Department of Business Administration. Her platform is centered on Medicaid expansion.
Jason Colquett is a seven-term mayor of Schlater. His platform includes Medicaid expansion, lowering property taxes, and bringing enterprising agriculture jobs to the Delta.
Everette Hill served as mayor of Como from 2010 until 2025. Before that, he was an alderman from 2005 until 2010. He’s now chair of the Mid-State Opportunity Board of Directors. While he has not provided a list of policy points, his social media page says he’s working to “bring progress, transparency, and true representation” to the people of District 24.
Lorette McClee is a barber, cosmetologist, and insurance agent from Greenwood. Her platform includes improving healthcare, boosting wages, offering viable alternatives to college, and finding more ways to feed those living in poverty.
Justin Pope is a Batesville native who currently serves as the corporate deputy of Progressive Health Group. His platform includes improving healthcare, strengthening the public education system, and spurring economic growth.
Georgio Proctor is a small business owner and former educator. His platform includes offering more resources to law enforcement officers and first responders, creating more jobs, expanding access to healthcare, and strengthening public schools.
It is worth noting that Hill, McClee, and Pope are among several candidates across the state who failed to file their campaign finance reports before the Oct. 28 deadline, according to the Mississippi Secretary of State’s website.
Senate District 26 (Hinds and Madison counties)
This is another race where the winner will have big shoes to fill as former Sen. John Horhn is now the mayor of Jackson after a three-decade-plus career in the legislature. Like House District 26 and Senate District 24, this race is nonpartisan. In alphabetical order, by last name, the following candidates are running.
Coleman Boyd is a pastor and emergency room physician from Bolton, who is a staunch opponent of abortion. He was pardoned by President Donald Trump in 2025 after being convicted on federal charges related to his part in a blockade of a Tennessee reproductive health clinic. Other policy views include outlawing same-sex marriage, ending vaccine mandates, and eliminating property and income taxes.
Jermaine Cooley is a chemist from Clinton who works for Ergon. His platform includes spurring economic development within the district and investing more in public schools.
Letitia Johnson is an attorney and former president of the Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees. Her platform includes teacher pay raises, crime prevention, and fully eliminating the state’s tax on groceries.
Theresa G. Kennedy is a business owner and podcaster. Her platform includes education improvements, spurring economic development, and supporting small businesses.
Kamesha Mumford is a municipal court judge and attorney at Mumford and Mumford Law Firm. She is also the president of the Mississippi Municipal Judges Association. Her platform includes creating more engineering and construction jobs, teacher pay raises, expanding broadband access, and boosting the capacity of volunteer fire departments.
James Pittman has worked in executive leadership for the Mississippi Department of Transportation for over two decades. His platform includes expanding Medicaid, cutting taxes, improving infrastructure, and easing the process of restoring voting rights for nonviolent offenders.
Jeffrey Stallworth is the chaplain at the G.V. Sonny Montgomery Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center in Jackson and pastor of Word and Worship in Byram. His platform includes investing in the area’s water system, supporting small businesses, and making it easier for incarcerated people to make money to pay child support.
It is worth noting that Pittman and Stallworth are among several candidates across the state who failed to file their campaign finance reports before the Oct. 28 deadline, according to the Mississippi Secretary of State’s website.
Senate District 44 (Forrest, Lamar, and Perry counties)
Incumbent Sen. Chris Johnson staved off Patrick Lott in the GOP primary and is now trying to keep a seat in the legislature since first winning in 2015. With a background in business, Johnson most recently served on various committees, including being chair of the Government Structure Committee and vice chair of the Finance Committee. If reelected to a newly drawn district, Johnson plans to keep pushing a pro-life, pro-law enforcement, and pro-business agenda.
Challenging Johnson is Democrat Shakita Taylor, a well-known Hattiesburg attorney. Taylor’s campaign slogan is “Community, Faith, Progress,” and her legislative goals include further investments in education, mental health, and the overall health of young people.
It is worth noting that Taylor was one of several candidates across the state who were late to file their campaign finance reports, according to the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office.
Senate District 45 (Forrest and Lamar counties)
Democrat Johnny Dupree is looking to get back on the political scene by running for the newly created District 45 seat. Dupree served as mayor of Hattiesburg from 2001 until 2017, when he lost to current Mayor Toby Barker. He’s also had unsuccessful bids for governor in 2011, secretary of state in 2019, and U.S. House in 2022.
According to his campaign website, Dupree plans to fight for “smart tax policies, stronger schools, safer neighborhoods, and better opportunities for every family” if elected. He also wants to see expanded access to healthcare and infrastructure improvements.
On the Republican side, Anna Rush is running for the seat. For the past seven years, she has been the lead prosecutor for the city of Hattiesburg and is president of the Mississippi Bar Young Lawyer Division. Her platform places an emphasis on improvement in healthcare, education, and economic development.
Election information
In-person absentee voting ended Nov. 1 ahead of the Nov. 4 election. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. for day-of voters. The Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office reminds eligible voters that anyone in line before 7 p.m. is legally entitled to cast a ballot. An eligible photo ID must be brought to polling locations to avoid having to cast an affidavit ballot.
Polling locations and sample ballots based on a voter’s address can be found here.
Editor’s note: Names of every candidate links to their campaign website or social media, if available. The reason being is for full platforms of every candidate to be available to voters.
