JACKSON — Mississippi voters will go to the polls in the March 11 party primary elections in less than two weeks to choose a new congressional delegation — and voter apathy about that task appears to be at stunning levels.
In places where politics is normally “cussed and discussed” in recent months, the more likely subject of the day is the ongoing judicial bribery investigations.
Yet that apathy could very well not be apathy at all. It could be confusion or ballot battle fatigue because voters face so many different choice on different dates
For the record, state voters face the following choices:
- U.S. Senate — On March 11, Democratic voters will choose between Erik R. Fleming and Shawn O’Hara for the right to take on Republican U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran in his November bid for a sixth term.
Cochran, 70, has been in the Senate since 1979 and is unopposed in the GOP primary. He’s been on Capitol Hill since winning election to the U.S. House in 1972.
In November, voters will also choose between Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker and Democratic challenger Ronnie Musgrove in a special election to fill the unexpired term for former U.S. Sen. Trent Lott, who stepped down from office last year.
- U.S. House, 1st Congressional District — Voters on March 11 will choose between the following candidates in the primaries:
On the GOP side, Southaven Mayor Greg Davis, former Tupelo mayor Glenn McCullough Jr. and Randy Russell of Oxford are running. Democratic contenders include Prentiss County Chancery Clerk Travis Childers, Marshall Coleman of Calhoun City, Ken Hurt of Verona, Brian Neely of Tupelo and state Rep. Steve Holland of Plantersville.
Hurt “suspended” his campaign. Independent Wally Pang and Green Party candidate John M. Wages Jr. will also be on the ballot in November. A second primary, if necessary, will be held April 1.
But a special election to fill the 1st District congressional seat has been set for April 22 by Gov. Haley Barbour. If a runoff is required, it would be held on May 13. Barbour designated March 7 as the qualifying deadline for candidates in the special election.
The winner of the special election will serve the final eight months of Wicker’s term. The party primary nominees will meet in November for the right to succeed Wicker in the 110th Congress.
- U.S. House, 2nd District — Incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson will face a March 11 primary challenge from perennial candidate Dorothy Benford, then face Republican challenger Richard Cook in November.
- U.S. House, 3rd District — Voters will on March 11 choose between the following candidates in the primaries:
For the Democratic nomination, Randall Eads of Starkville will meet Joel Gill of Pickens. For the Republican nod, voters will choose between Gregg Harper of Pearl, Charlie Ross of Brandon, David Landrum of Madison County, John Rounsaville of Madison, Bill Marcy of Meridian, Gregory Hatcher of Meridian and Rev. James Broadwater of Flowood.
A second primary, if necessary, will be held April 1.
- U.S. House, 4th District — Incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor of Bay St. Louis will meet Republican challenger John McCay III in the November general election after both are unopposed in the primaries.
Despite the obvious voter apathy so far, this is a historic year in Mississippi politics. Two open congressional seats and a U.S. Senate seat in play make it so.
The Wicker-Musgrove U.S. Senate race has national implications — and the presidential races may well have implications on that Senate race as well.
Despite the confusion, expect voters to engage fully after the primaries and into the summer. The November races promise much higher voter interest statewide.
