2016 Voter Guide to Mississippi’s 4th Congressional District

Four candidates are vying for the 4th Congressional District seat currently held by Rep. Steven Palazzo (R): Palazzo (R), Mark Dey Gladney (D), Richard “Ric” McCluskey (L), and Shawn O’Hara (Reform).

AFA Action provides a fairly comprehensive guide to the issues and positions of each candidate HERE although incumbent Rep. Palazzo didn’t respond to the survey.

Each candidates positions can be researched at their campaign websites listed below:

• Mark Dey Gladney
• Richard “Ric” McCluskey
• Shawn O’Hara (No website found)
• Steven Palazzo

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Vote Tuesday in Mississippi’s Primary

Tuesday, March 8th is Mississippi’s opportunity to choose who they want representing them in the November General Election. Both Republicans and Democrats hold their primaries on the same day and, since Mississippi is an “open” state, anyone can vote for either party.

While both the Democrat and Republican parties have had many contenders drop from their respective primary races, many will still be listed on the ballots.  For the Democrats, the ballot will have the following:

• Hillary Clinton*
• Roque ‘Rocky’ De La Fuente
• Martin O’Malley
• Bernie Sanders*
• Willie Wilson

The Republicans have reduced the number actively campaigning to four but the list of names on the Mississippi ballot also remains lengthy:

• Jeb Bush
• Ben Carson
• Chris Christie
• Ted Cruz*
• Carly Fiorina
• Lindsey Graham
• Mike Huckabee
• John R. Kasich*
• George Pataki
• Rand Paul
• Marco Rubio*
• Rick Santorum
• Donald J. Trump*

Asterisks indicate those candidates with active campaigns.

In addition to the widely publicized Presidential Primaries, South Mississippi will also be selecting their choice to represent the respective parties for the U.S. House of Representatives 4th Congressional District.  Incumbent Rep. Steven Palazzo is running unopposed for the Republican ticket while Democrat Mark Gladney is running unopposed to challenge Palazzo in November.

To see a sample of your ballot and find your polling place, visit the Secretary of State’s Polling Place Locator.

Palazzo named to House Appropriations Committee

While the special election to fill the 1st Congressional District is still taking shape, U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo has been appointed to replace the late Alan Nunnelee on the House Appropriations Committee (HAC).

Former Sen. Trent Lott said that Mississippi has been represented on the Appropriations committee since the 1930s and that losing that position would have been a big loss to the Gulf Coast and the state. “I was just depressed that we’d lost that slot,” Lott said. “So with Palazzo going on, that’s really important — important for the district but also important for him. For those federal installations we have down there on the Coast this is really big.”

Since this powerful committee writes the bills that determine where and how tax dollars are spent, the state benefits from the representation. Senator Thad Cochran chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee where he has established a strong history of bringing federal dollars into the state. Since Mississippi is dependent upon federal aid and routinely topping the list of state budgets supported with federal dollars (42.9% of the 2013 budget was provided by the federal government), having representation on the Appropriations committees of both the House and Senate is vital.

Rep. Palazzo should benefit politically because this position greatly expands his influence beyond that of his roles on the Armed Services, Homeland Security, and Space and Technology Committees, some of which he’ll have to relinquish. With Tea Party favorite and state Sen. Chris McDaniel expressing interest in the 4th Congressional District seat, Palazzo’s new-found status should provide give him an edge in future elections.

For More Information:

• Palazzo get Appropriation Committee spot in U.S. House
• Palazzo gets seat on House Appropriations Committee
• Thad Cochran to chair Appropriations Committee
• Gov. sets U.S. House election to replace Nunnelee
• Rep. Alan Nunnelee Dies at Age 56
• Chris McDaniel Looks to Play in Mississippi Special Election
• MS Code § 23-15-853: Special elections to fill vacancies in representation in Congress
• Budgets for Mississippi, Louisiana are flush with federal Money
• States Most & Least Dependent on the Federal Government
• Which States Take the Most form the U.S. Government?

McDaniel undecided in 2015

In the Clarion-Ledger report “McDaniel ‘would prefer federal position’” by Geoff Pender, Sen. Chris McDaniel hinted at a possible 2016 run for the 4th Congressional District seat currently held by Rep. Steven Palazzo. In the interview, McDaniel indicated that he will seek re-election for the District 42 state Senate seat that he currently fills. Officially, McDaniel has only stated that he will not run for Governor.

In lieu of an official announcement, some indications have pointed to a possible run for Mississippi Lieutenant Governor. McDaniel has openly objected to Lt. Gen. Tate Reeves’ control over the state Senate as stripping control from the people.

As a Tea Party favorite, McDaniel garnered national attention during the 2014 election campaign in which he pushed Sen. Thad Cochran to a run-off in the Republican Primary.

For more information:

• McDaniel ‘would prefer federal position’
• Sen. Chris McDaniel for Lieutenant Governor?
• State Senator Chris McDaniel

 

 

2015 election slow to take shape

The qualifying deadline for the 2015 state election is February 27th but few candidates have candidates have entered. Some of the significant questions surround the statewide offices:

1. Who will be the Democrat Candidate for Governor? Attorney General Jim Hood is a front-runner but he has indicated little interest.
2. Who will run for Lieutenant Governor? Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann has contemplated challenging incumbent Tate Reeves.
3. Who will be running for Attorney General? Will incumbent Jim Hood attempt reelection?
4. Will Stacey Pickering run for reelection as State Auditor? Republican challengers Mary Hawkins Butler (Madison Mayor) and Sen. Michael Watson (Pascagoula) have already expressed interest.

A wildcard in the 2015 elections is Sen. Chris McDaniel. He is thought to be a credible Republican challenger for Attorney General but has also indicated his interest in Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State. However, McDaniel may be more set on federal office and wait to challenge U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo for the 4th Congressional District in 2016.

The 2015 Election will be November 3rd with any party primaries 3 month prior on August 4th.

For More Information:

• Candidates playing chicken with deadline
• Mary Hawkins Butler qualifies to run for auditor

MS Gulf Coast’s 2014 General Election Results

Mississippians voted overwhelmingly to support a state constitutional amendment to preserve the right to hunt and fish.  Nearly 90% of voters approved House Concurrent Resolution 30 (HCR 30) which will amend the state constitution and become the 18th state with hunting and fishing protected as a constitutional right.

Winners in the 2014 General Election:

• U.S. Senate:  Thad Cochran
• 4th Congressional District:  Steven Palazzo
• Chancery Court Judge, District 08, Place 2:  Jennifer Schloegel
• Chancery Court Judge, District 08, Place 3:  Sandy Steckler
• County Court Judge, Place 3:  Margaret Alfonso
• Chancery Court Judge, District 16, Place 1:  D. Neil Harris, Sr.*
• Chancery Court Judge, District 16, Place 3:  Michael Fondren

*As of November 7th, D. Neil Harris, Sr. led the election against Paula Yancey by 18 votes with 18 affidavit ballots outstanding.

Two races will require a run-off.  In the Harrison County race for Circuit Court Judge (District 02, Place 2), Chris Schmidt earned 42% of the vote and will face Robert Fant Walker who received the second highest vote total with 34%.  In Jackson County, Mike Ezell garnered 43.9% of the vote and will face Scott McIlrath who came in second with 15.9%.

Runoff election will be November 25th.

For more information:

• Hunting and fishing amendment given overwhelming support
• Schmidt, Walker in judicial runoff; Chancery Court races decided
• Runoff slated in Jackson County sheriff’s race, with Ezell in as front runner
• District 16 elects Mike Fondren as new Chancery Court judge, Harris-Yancey race still close
• Neil Harris-Paula Yancey judicial race separated by 18 votes with 18 outstanding votes with no ID
• Mississippi Voted to Amend Its Constitution and Hunters Will Love It
• MS News Now:  Election 2014
• Election results 2014 by state, county, and district
• Democrats Lose in Mississippi but Vow to Keep Pushing the Issues
• Republicans’ First Step Was to Handle Extremists in Party

Mid-Term Election Tuesday

Tuesday, November 4th is the mid-term general election.  The Mississippi Secretary of State has established a website that provides both the polling location and the ballot for every address.  Visit “www.sos.ms.gov/Pollingplace/Pages/default.aspx” to see where to vote and what exactly is on your ballot.

Mississippi Gulf Coast counties will be voting for the following:

U.S. Senator: 

• Travis W. Childers (Democrat)
• Thad Cochran (Republican)
• Shawn O’Hara  (Reform)

U.S. House of Representatives 4th Congressional District:

• Cindy Burleson (Independent)
• Eli Jackson (Reform)
• Matt Moore (Democrat)
• Steven McCarty Palazzo (Republican)
• Ed Reich (Independent)
• Joey Robinson (Libertarian)

Mississippi House Concurrent Resolution 30 (Yes/No):

This proposed constitutional amendment establishes hunting, fishing, and the harvesting of wildlife, including by the use of traditional methods, as a constitutional right subject only to such regulations and restrictions that promote wildlife conservation and management as the Legislature may prescribe by general law.

A variety of Chancery Court, Circuit Court, and County judges are also on the ballot but vary widely by location. Visit the Secretary of State website to see the specific candidates for your location.

Jackson County is voting for Sheriff with the following candidates on the ballot:

• Jeff Barnes
• R. ‘Officer Bob’ Cochran
• Mike Ezell
• Bruce A. Lynd
• Scott McIlrath
• Sheila Smallman