Over the past year I have been writing a narrative, one in which conservatives have a voice in the state House and feel welcome to express their ideas. I have tried to help you all catch that vision as well. Many thought it would never happen… but Tuesday night our dreams may have become reality!
Based on results as we know them right now, it looks as if conservatives may have picked up 11 or 12 seats while losing 2 giving Republicans 63 or 64 seats in the state House – the first outright conservative majority in the House since Reconstruction. If these numbers hold once all of the absentees and affidavits are calculated, Mississippi will have a Republican Speaker of the House. Doesn’t that just tickle your fancy?!
We’ve already heard of at least one challenge out of House District 111. Liberal blogger and trial lawyer Matt Eichelberger of CottonMouth fame is helping his friend Democrat Rep. Brandon Jones. Eichelberger was in Pascagoula Tuesday seeking to represent Jones’ interests. He even posted and promoted that Jones had won before the Jackson County election officials posted the full results. Jones’ Republican challenger Charles Busby is currently up by 55 votes before the absentees and affidavits are counted. Many of you may recall that it was Jones who won by 11 votes in 2007.
The Numbers
Here’s what we are seeing as of now:
* Potential Republican pickups in districts: 3, 10, 13, 19, 20, 25, 28, 93, 105, 107, 111, 121
* Potential Democrat pickups in districts: 43 (Ellington) and 73 (Nowell)
* Potential Republican districts: 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 28, 35, 37, 39, 40, 44, 46, 52, 54, 56, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 64, 74, 77, 78, 81, 83, 84, 88, 89, 92, 93, 95, 97, 99, 100, 101, 102, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 111, 112, 113, 114, 116, 117, 118, 120, 121
Interesting Notes
* The Tracy Arnold win in HD 3 was a critical win for the GOP. The symbolism of this win is surely not lost on many given that this seat is held by long time Democrat and soon-to-be former Speaker of the House.
* The voters in HD 19 have now rejected two Democrats – Mark Duvall and Democratic Party chairman Jamie Franks. Perhaps they are trying to tell liberals something…
* Two Democratic House stalwarts lost to their Republican challengers on Tuesday – Rep, Diane Peranich and Rep, Dirk Dedeaux.
* Greene and George Counties have gone red with election of Republicans in HD 105 and 107.
* I do not believe the GOP is quite ready to concede on HD 43 and 73 just yet. I also think we will see a review over in HD 45 between Democratic Rep. Bennett Malone and Republican Jay Mathis.
* One of the most liberal members of the House – John Mayo – lost today to Republican Gene Alday in HD 25.
So there you have it folks… it appears we have done what many said we couldn’t do. We have fired McCoy and his Boys giving conservatives a voice in our state House.
Thank you, my fellow Mississippians, for catching the vision and helping us clean Mississippi’s House. This will definitely be a November Mississippi will remember, if the numbers hold true. I do not see the GOP falling below that magic number of 62, barring any unforeseen circumstances.
We finished the job together and made a difference for Mississippi.
We’ll offer up more election wrap up soon…
Magnolia Tribune
