By SOPHIE BATES Associated Press
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi Democrats on Tuesday are deciding between longtime U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson and his 34-year-old primary challenger in a race that reflects generational struggle for control of the party.
Thompson, a 78-year-old civil rights leader who chaired the House Jan. 6 Committee and serves as a ranking member on the House Homeland Security Committee, has held his seat for more than three decades. He is running against Evan Turnage, an antitrust lawyer who previously worked for top Democrats in Washington, and Pertis Herman Williams III, who has called for a new era of leadership.
Turnage is part of a wave of young Democrats who are hoping to oust older incumbents and usher in a new era. He has staked his candidacy on a message of economic populism and cast himself as a leader capable of understanding and regulating Big Tech and artificial intelligence.
Turnage faces an uphill battle against Thompson, who has more than $1.5 million in his bank account. Since mid-December, Turnage’s campaign has raised just over $200,000 and has a little under $40,000 left to spend.
Other races were also on the ballot in Tuesday’s primary in Mississippi. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith defeated challenger Sarah Adlakha in the Republican primary as she runs for reelection. In the general election, Hyde-Smith will face Scott Colom, who secured the Democratic nomination over candidates Priscilla Till and Albert Littell.
Incumbents often have the advantage, and that includes Thompson.
Marvin King, an associate professor of political science at the University of Mississippi, said Thompson’s 17 terms in Congress have made him an institution in a state where voters tend to reelect incumbents.
“He’s basically been there like half of people’s lives on average,” King said. “No other challenger has effectively shown why Bennie Thompson should be dethroned.”
Selket Myles, who lives in Jackson, Mississippi, said she voted for Thompson Tuesday, expressing confidence in his experience and citing his work on the House Jan. 6 Committee.
“He knows the issues,” Myles said. ”That’s what makes me trust him.”
In an interview just after polls closed at 7 p.m. local time, Thompson said he has spent his life creating opportunities for people who want to run for office and believes there is room at the table for people of all ages.
“You make a choice to run, and I’ll continue to fight for you to have that right to run,” Thompson said. “We have a lot of issues we need to address.”
Thompson has faced a few meaningful challengers from both the right and left, but none of his races have been considered close, King said.
The two are vying for control of Mississippi’s 2nd Congressional District. The district stretches from the central part of the state west to the Mississippi River and is a majority Black Democratic stronghold in a state led mainly by Republicans.
Given the district’s demographic makeup, whoever wins the Democratic primary on Tuesday will likely succeed in November’s general election.
On the Republican side, Ron Eller, a military veteran and physician assistant, is running against Kevin Wilson, an oilman and county supervisor. Thompson previously defeated Eller in 2024, winning with 62% of the vote.
