Two people are running to replace one Southwest Mississippi District Attorney who is stepping down and a challenger has emerged in another DA’s race.
Brendon Adams and Joey Norton, both Republicans from Brookhaven, are running to replace Democrat Dee Bates, who is stepping down after serving since 2004 in Pike, Walthall and Lincoln counties.
Adams is an assistant district attorney and Norton challenged Bates four years ago.
In the Amite, Franklin, Wilkinson and Adams counties, Natchez attorney Tim Cotton, an independent, has filed to run for DA. First-term incumbent Sha-meca Collins, a Democrat, hadn’t qualified as of last week, according to the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office.
Party primaries are Aug. 8. The general election is Nov. 7.
Meanwhile, no sitting state lawmaker who will represent the area when the new term begins next year has opposition in this year’s elections with less than two weeks before the Feb. 1 qualifying deadline, according to the most recent list of qualifying candidates.
In the House of Representatives, District 53 Republican incumbent Vince Mangold of Brookhaven, District 97 Republican incumbent Sam C. Mims V of McComb, District 98 Democratic incumbent Daryl Porter Jr. of Summit and District 99 Republican incumbent Bill Pigott of Tylertown have all filed for re-election, the Secretary of State’s Office reported.
The only other local incumbent representative who had yet to file was Angela Cockerham, an independent from Magnolia representing House District 96.
In the Senate, District 38 incumbent Kelvin Butler, a Democrat from McComb who won his old legislative seat back during a 2021 special election, hadn’t filed as of last week.
Current District 37 Sen. Melanie Sojourner hasn’t filed either, and she has indicated that it’s doubtful she will. Sojourner, a longtime political foe of fellow Republican Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, who presides over the Senate, saw her district’s lines shift dramatically and merge into heavily Democratic District 36 during redistricting last year.
Sen. Albert Butler, D-Port Gibson, the current District 36 senator, is now running for District 37, where he was moved during redistricting. Democrat Shirley Sandifer also is running for that seat, which will no longer serve the local area.
With District 37 moving out of the area, Senate District 39 has taken its place in representing the northern part of Pike and Amite counties. It’s held by Republican Jason Barrett of Brookhaven, who also faces no opposition thus far.
In statewide races, two Democrats are running for their party’s nomination in the governor’s race with hopes of unseating Republican first-term Gov. Tate Reeves.
They are Gregory Wash, who Jackson news stations have described as a cartoonist, fashion designer and songwriter, and Northern District Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley.
Hosemann faces a challenger in the Republican primary, Shane Quick.
Attorney General Lynn Fitch and State Treasurer David McRae, State Auditor Shad White and Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney, all Republicans, are unopposed so far.
Republican incumbent Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson is being challenged by Democrat Robert Bradford.
In the Southern District Transportation Commissioner’s race, Republican Charles Busby is running to replace Tom King, who isn’t seeking re-election.
