Congressional Quarterly, 9/18/7
If history repeats itself, then Mississippi Republican John Rounsaville is in luck. The state’s tradition of electing young congressional staffers to Congress is something 32-year-old Rounsaville can hope to benefit from as he seeks the 3rd District seat of his former boss, retiring Republican Rep. Charles W. “Chip” Pickering Jr.
Rounsaville can expect strong competition for the GOP nomination in Pickering’s heavily Republican district. About a dozen names are being tossed around in local political circles as candidates for the seat, and Rankin County Republican Chair Gregg Harper already has declared his intention to run.
Other competitors in the mix include: state Sen. Charlie Ross, who lost the state’s primary for lieutenant governor on Aug. 7; state Sens. Walter Michel and Videt Carmichael; state Rep. Greg Snowden; state Treasurer Tate Reeves; and Whit Hughes, deputy director of the Mississippi Development Authority, GOP fundraiser, and former Mississippi State basketball star.