Field set for court-ordered special legislative elections as a result of redistricting

• Four seats will be unopposed in the special elections. Three will be decided in the August Primary with the other seven determined in November’s General Election.

Qualifying ended Monday for the court-ordered special legislative elections resulting from this year’s redistricting.

A federal three-judge panel mandated new legislative district boundaries be drawn to increase majority minority districts in areas in North Mississippi and the Pine Belt. This affected more than a dozen legislative districts.

Four seats will be unopposed in the special elections: Senate District 34 with Senator Juan Barnett (D), Senate District 41 with Senator Joey Fillingane (R), House District 36 with Rep. Karl Gibbs (D), and House District 39 with Rep. Dana McLean (R).

Three races will be decided in the August 5 Primary Elections while the other seven will be determined in the November 4 General Election.

Here are the qualified candidates for the special elections as reported by the Mississippi Republican and Democratic parties late Monday night.

Senate District 1

• Michael McLendon (incumbent) – Republican
• Jon Stevenson – Republican
• Chris Hanna – Democrat

Senate District 2

• Charlie Hoots – Republican
• Theresa Gillespie Isom – Democrat
• Kelly Lisa Andress – Democrat
• Robert Walker – Democrat
• Note: Incumbent Senator David Parker announced last Thursday he would not be seeking re-election

Senate District 11

• Reginald Jackson (incumbent) – Democrat
• Abe Hudson, Jr. – Democrat
• Kendall Lee Prewett – Republican

Senate District 19

• Kevin Blackwell (incumbent) – Republican
• Dianne Dodson Black – Democrat

Senate District 34

• Juan Barnett (incumbent) – Democrat

Senate District 41

• Joey Fillingane (incumbent) – Republican

Senate District 42

• Robin Robinson (incumbent) – Republican
• Randy Robinson – Republican
• Donald Hartness – Republican

Senate District 44

• Chris Johnson (incumbent) – Republican
• Christopher Lott – Republican
• Shakita Taylor – Democrat
• Note: State Senator John Polk was paired with Johnson during the redistricting process but Polk decided to retire from the Senate instead of seeking re-election and running against Johnson.

Senate District 45

• Anna Rush – Republican
• Johnny DuPree – Democrat

House District 16

• Rickey Thompson (incumbent) – Democrat
• Brady Davis – Democrat

House District 22

• Jonathan Lancaster (incumbent) – Republican
• Justin Crosby – Democrat

House District 36

• Karl Gibbs (incumbent) – Democrat

House District 39

• Dana McLean (incumbent) – Republican

House District 41

• Kabir Karriem (incumbent) – Democrat
• Pierre Beard, Sr. – Democrat

Update: The Mississippi Republican Party said early Thursday that Mitchell Wiggins had dropped out of the HD 39 race, leaving Rep. Dana McLean unopposed. This change has been made to the list and article above.