Michael Chiaradio (left), Michael Guest (center), and Erik Kiehle (right)
- Republican Congressman Michael Guest appears on pace to win a fifth term in the U.S. House despite the best effort from his Democrat opponent Michael Chiaradio. Meanwhile, the Libertarian Party has denounced the campaign of Erik Kiehle.
Mississippi’s 3rd District Congressman Michael Guest (R) is seeking a fifth term in the U.S. House of Representatives this year after first being elected in 2018.
Guest is the chairman of the House Ethics Committee, chairman of the Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee of the Committee on Homeland Security, and serves on the House Appropriations Committee.
He is being challenged by Democrat nominee Michael Chiaradio, a former independent professional baseball league player turned regenerative farmer, and Libertarian nominee Erik Kiehle, a businessman.
Backed by Speaker Mike Johnson, the White House, and his fellow Republicans representing Mississippi in Washington D.C., Guest is currently the heavy favorite to win his re-election bid. The Cook Political Report rates the race as “Solid R.”
The incumbent also has a substantial financial advantage, reporting approximately $963,000 cash on hand as of his June 30 filing with the Federal Election Commission.
Meanwhile, first-time candidate Chiaradio reported just over $23,000 cash on hand. FEC records also show that Kiehle has not filed a campaign finance report.
The Challengers and Their Parties
Chiaradio has been fully embraced by the Mississippi Democratic Party. He has been seen actively campaigning both in and outside of the 3rd District. He has posted pictures to his social media alongside former Vice President Kamala Harris (D), Democrat nominee for U.S. Senate Scott Colom, fellow Democrat congressional candidate Cliff Johnson, and a number of Democrat state lawmakers.
Chiaradio also posted a photo of him in Starkville calling for the impeachment of President Donald Trump (R).
The Democrat has received endorsements from AFL-CIO and many of the party’s faithful. His messaging has centered on improving healthcare access, modernizing the energy grid and civil justice reforms. He has also expressed opposition to “indiscriminately subsidizing conventional data center construction.”
Chiaradio has blamed state Republicans for district maps that “handcuff” voters, saying, “Mississippi may have one of the most gerrymandered political systems in the country.”
“Republicans have hurt our state, shrunk our economy, and left working families behind,” Chiaradio said.
READ MORE: Congressman Guest draws Democrat challenger in 3rd District midterm race
As for Kiehle, his campaign has been denounced by the Libertarian Party of Mississippi over statements made by the candidate related to Hitler and Nazism. One comment Kiehle posted said, “Nazis were patriots who loved their country. Why hate on patriots?”
The Libertarian Party said in May that Kiehle’s statements do not represent their party, its membership, or its values.
“Advocating government coercion against peaceful people or praising authoritarian ideologies isn’t libertarianism — it’s authoritarianism. Mississippi state law states that political parties do not determine who runs under their banner. According to Mississippi Code § 23-15-291, ‘All nominations … shall be made by primary elections,’” the Libertarian Party posted to Facebook. “The state party did not choose this candidate to run for office.”
Kiehle defended the statement in a comment on the Libertarian Party’s Facebook page, saying, “Nazi refers to a political party in Germany. Using it as a slur to attack other LP members and delegates is something I find objectionable. My comment was not made in the open, on a public page, to in any way suggest I support or condemn a political party that ceased to exist 80 years ago. My comment was meant as a way to open discussion as to why ‘Nazi’ is a lazy slur used by low-IQ individuals when they can’t articulate coherent arguments. I stand by the factual statement. Those Germans who fought on behalf of their nation were patriots to their country. We honor our veterans as patriots, and so does every other nation.”
Candidate Platforms
Magnolia Tribune was able to discuss policy platforms with Guest and Chiaradio, as well as what they hope to accomplish in the next Congress, and what sets them apart from the other candidates.
The Kiehle campaign did not respond to several requests for comment.
Congressman Guest said that his platform focuses on strengthening the economy and securing the border.
“It’s important that we make tax cuts permanent so that there is no tax on Social Security benefits, tips, or overtime work. In Congress, I will always work for more tax relief for families who deserve to keep more of their money, not more for the government,” Guest said. “Additionally, we’ve made progress on securing our border to stop the flow of illegal immigration and narcotics from entering our country but now is not the time to let down our guard.”
Chiaradio also said that his campaign is focused on economics, outlining several areas he believes need improvement but stopping short of identifying a single policy to achieve that goal.
“I am primarily focused on economics, and I believe Mississippi can and should become a national leader in productivity. There is no single policy that will accomplish that. We need a blend of sustained investments,” Chiaradio said. “But the core of my platform is improving our healthcare system, bringing jobs and investment to Mississippi through major water, energy and transportation infrastructure projects, and reducing unnecessary barriers so small businesses and small farmers have greater access to markets and capital.”
In the next Congress, Guest emphasized that his connections and experience are needed to keep good momentum going for Mississippi.
“I want to continue to use my position to advocate for the people of Mississippi, and to make our state a great place to live, worship and raise a family. I will use my relationships with leadership and the administration, and my position on the Appropriations Committee, to promote Mississippi’s interest and build on our economic success,” Guest said. “It’s critically important that we continue this momentum to grow our economy and create more high-paying jobs across our state.”
Chiaradio, on the other hand, said that in the next Congress, if elected, he would “lead with common sense” and attempt to break the “toxic divisions” of a gridlocked legislative body.
“I don’t consider myself classically liberal or conservative. I think of myself as situational. I’m willing to take a liberal or conservative approach depending on what I believe will produce the best result,” Chiaradio said. “For example, I may favor greater public investment in healthcare while also supporting low taxes and strong border security. To me, the labels are less important than whether a policy works. I try to approach policy like finding the best move on a chessboard. I stress-test my ideas and make intelligent midcourse adjustments as new information comes in.”
On what separates him from Chiaradio and Kiehle, Congressman Guest pointed to his “conservative record of getting results for the people of Mississippi.”
“Prior to being elected to Congress, I had the honor of serving as a District Attorney to prosecute crime and put violent offenders behind bars. During that time, I worked closely with victims, their families and law enforcement to make our communities safer,” Guest said. “I know the importance of safe communities and what that means to our overall quality of life. My longtime and steadfast commitment to the men and women in law enforcement gives me a unique perspective in Congress on issues involving public safety. When radicals propose outrageous ideas such as defunding the police, ending incarceration for violent offenders and abolishing federal law enforcement agencies, I will always stand strong to support law and order in our communities.”
Chiaradio said what separates him from his Republican and Libertarian opponents is that although he is “loyal to the Mississippi Democratic Party,” he does not “fit perfectly into either party’s ideological framework.”
Chiaradio further pleaded with voters to judge him based on his ideas, not just his party label.
“I’m not interested in defining myself by whether I agree or disagree with President Obama, President Trump, President Biden, Vice President Harris or any other national political figure. I got involved in politics because I had my own ideas about where the country should go, and I want to chart my own course,” Chiaradio said. “I’m also willing to disagree publicly with my own party and I have a record of doing so despite criticism from Democrats.”
The General Election in Mississippi is on Tuesday, November 3. Absentee voting is now open.
