Mississippi’s two largest cities will each have new leaders in city hall this summer. While Jackson’s two-term mayor, Chokwe Antar Lumumba, was unseated in the Democratic primary in April, two names well-known by coastal residents are vying to replace longtime Republican mayor Billy Hewes after he announced he would not seek another term.
Democratic candidate Sonya Williams Barnes aims to flip the Republican stronghold to blue after a resounding primary win over businessman Ronnie Henderson, in which she collected 84.3% of the vote.
Barnes previously spent a decade representing District 119 (Harrison County) in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 2012 to 2022. She continued to play a part in the community after her time in the state legislature, as she currently owns a local funeral home on the coast and also served as Mississippi Policy Director for the Southern Poverty Law Center.
The Jackson State alum has championed a platform tagged “One Gulfport,” in which she hopes to bring all of the city’s communities together under a larger goal of advancing the municipality.
“This campaign is not just about me. In fact, it’s not about me at all. It’s about us,” Barnes said in a video announcing her qualification as a candidate. “Together we can create a Gulfport where charity, service, and progress begins at home and can reach every corner of our community.”
During her time in the House, Barnes often worked across the aisle to advance legislation in the Republican-controlled chamber, such as directing money to public education and allocating funding for the state’s ports. She also served as vice chair for the Ports, Harbors, and Airports Committee and chaired the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus.
Barnes has received a string of endorsements from prominent state democrats, along with national support from politicos like Gulfport-raised and former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.
Republican candidate Hugh Keating has also been the beneficiary of some impact endorsements, such as that of soon-to-be former mayor Hewes.
Keating, a Gulfport native and resident, announced his intention to follow Hewes in the mayoral seat in June of 2024.
The Mississippi College School of Law graduate has spent the last 40 years in the legal profession on the coast, boasting a list of leadership positions both in the law industry and in the community. Along with serving as the vice president and treasurer at law firm Dukes, Keating, Hatten, McRaney, and Blum, he also worked as president of the Mississippi Bar Association.
“It’s almost like a calling,” Keating said following his candidacy announcement. “I feel like I can hit the ground running and for it to be a seamless transition. We’ve got a lot of transformative projects in the pipeline that need to be carried to fruition. But the city has other needs to be addressed – there’s always room for improvement.”
The attorney’s community involvement includes roles as Vice President of the Gulfport Redevelopment Commission, President of the Mississippi Coast Crime Commission, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Leadership Gulf Coast, and multiple leadership positions with the Boy Scouts of America.
Keating’s campaign platform is centered around driving Gulfport to “reach its full potential” by growing the economy, tourism industry, public safety, infrastructure, and quality of life.
Mississippi’s general municipal elections are set for Tuesday, June 3.
