Ahead of Mississippi’s municipal general elections, a contentious Gulfport mayoral campaign has been roiled in controversy. The latest barb is an accusation of election interference by supporters of Republican candidate Hugh Keating, who faces Democratic candidate Sonya Williams Barnes on Tuesday for the top political seat in the state’s second-largest city.
The race has commanded a national spotlight as Keating’s campaign has drawn support from heavy hitters like U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and a flurry of statewide leaders, while Barnes has attracted endorsements from former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), and others. Barnes aims to become the first Black woman to take the Gulfport mayor’s seat in city history.
On Monday, the Mississippi Democratic Party issued a press release condemning an alleged attempt by Island View Casino managing partner Rick Carter to illegally influence the election.
An internal letter penned by Carter was sent to the casino’s nearly 2,000 employees on May 30, detailing the reasons Carter was supporting Keating in the upcoming election.
“While there are two well-known and qualified candidates, I am writing to tell you why I support Hugh Keating for Mayor of Gulfport,” a portion of the letter reads. “Whoever you support, please vote! I hope you will give your strongest consideration to a lifelong friend – and a true friend to Gulfport – Hugh Keating for Mayor.”
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Democrats argue that, as the support for Keating was voiced internally under the official company name of Island View Casino, it violates state law that prohibits employers from making any statement “calculated to intimidate or coerce or otherwise influence any vote of an employee.”
“The letter from Island View leadership, though not overtly threatening, clearly attempts to influence employee votes by raising fears about the company’s future if a certain candidate is not elected,” a portion of the party’s statement reads. “This creates a chilling environment in which employees may feel coerced or surveilled regarding their political choices.”
Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman Cheikh Taylor said the following in a statement regarding the allegation:
This is voter intimidation, plain and simple. Island View Casino’s letter is a calculated attempt to use corporate influence to sway an election in favor of Hugh Keating, the candidate who they know will do the bidding of the casino and against the interests of its workforce. No employer has the right to insert fear into the voting booth. This kind of conduct is not just unethical it’s illegal. And it’s especially shameful given that this election could result in a groundbreaking victory for a Black woman whose leadership promises to uplift all of Gulfport.”
The alleged interference accusation closely follows Republican leaders labeling voting initiatives from Barnes’ supporters as election fraud.
GOP leaders pointed to two incidents of meal vouchers being offered to those who cast absentee ballots in the election, accusing the Barnes campaign of facilitating the incentives to garner more votes for the Democratic candidate. The claims, which allegedly violate state law that prohibits individuals from offering money or “anything of substantial value” for his or her vote, have prompted an investigation by the Mississippi Attorney General’s office.
Williams Barnes issued a denial of any wrongdoing on the day the public accusations were made in late May.
Barnes, a former state lawmaker, secured a resounding win in April’s Democratic primary, collecting 84.3% of the turnout and more than 3,000 total votes to become the party’s candidate over opponent Ronnie Henderson. Democratic leaders cited Barnes’ primary success as evidence that Republican leaders are resorting to nefarious tactics in order to derail her campaign.
The day after Carter’s letter to employees, Island View CEO Linsey Inman issued a follow-up letter due to “some employees reported feeling offended or concerned by the letter.”
“I want to emphasize that you should not feel pressured or influenced to vote for a particular candidate,” the letter reads. “Island View (and no one affiliated with Island View) monitors, tracks or has any interest in knowing how you vote.”
The Mississippi Democratic Party called on the secretary of state, the attorney general’s office, the Harrison County District Attorney’s Office, and the Gulfport Election Commission to investigate the matter. None of the agencies have released a response.
