Republican candidates are beginning to announce bids for statewide office in Mississippi ahead of the 2027 election cycle. Meanwhile, the local Democratic Party has been relatively mum about its potential hopefuls.
This is not by accident or happenstance, according to Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman Cheikh Taylor. The chairman, who also serves in the Mississippi House of Representatives, explained on Mornings with Richard Cross that the party is not getting too far ahead of itself, as the upcoming congressional midterms present opportunities to break a Republican stronghold within the state.
“Let’s get out of the midterms first before start going through the minutiae of these names,” Taylor said of potential statewide candidates.
Taylor is confident that Congressman Bennie Thompson, the state’s lone Democratic federal lawmaker, will earn an 18th term serving District 2, while also expressing optimism that Mississippi’s red wall could be further breached in other races. Notably, the chairman believes Lowndes County-based District Attorney Scott Colom has a viable shot at unseating incumbent U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith.
Taylor and his team at the Mississippi Democratic Party are also laser-focused on exhausting all efforts in U.S. House of Representatives races where the incumbent is a Republican.
He said the party is all-in on helping civil rights attorney Cliff Johnson take down incumbent Congressman Trent Kelly in District 1, former professional baseball player turned farmer Michael Chiaradio defeat incumbent Congressman Michael Guest in District 3, and state Rep. Jeffrey Hulum III unseat incumbent Congressman Mike Ezell in District 4.
“The Democratic Party is intently focused on these midterms where we have the opportunity to reelect folks like Congressman Bennie Thompson and (elect) newcomers like Scott Colom, Cliff Johnson, Michael Chiaradio, and of course, one of my colleagues Jeffrey Hulum,” Taylor said.
At the state election level, Republicans have mobilized earlier than their Democratic counterparts. For next year’s governor’s race, familiar faces like Attorney General Lynn Fitch, former House Speaker Philip Gunn, and Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson have already launched their campaigns.
Down ballot races are starting to pick up on the GOP side, as well. Secretary of State Michael Watson is running for lieutenant governor. Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell is running for attorney general. Treasurer David McRae is seeking reelection. State Sen. Daniel Sparks and former state Rep. Nick Bain are running for auditor.
Yet, the Democratic Party has been much closer to the vest with its possible candidates. That does not mean there are not names circulating. Taylor said that, after the congressional midterms, announcements for state offices will begin to be made. He added that there will be a mix of familiar names and some newcomers the party believes to be on the rise.
“Of course we’re going to have candidates. Of course we’re going to have great names — some old, some new — for our gubernatorial race and our down ballot races,” Taylor said.
While Republicans have seemingly dominated the political scene in Mississippi elections of late, Taylor is hopeful that the tide is turning in a different direction and that voters are starting to see which party represents their best interests. And, of course, Taylor firmly asserted that the Democratic Party is the one that best represents the people of Mississippi.
“We’re ready. We’re locked and loaded. We know we’re on the right side of the policies that really affect everyday Mississippians,” Taylor said. “We look forward to competing in the midterms and you will see us front and center come the general election.”