A crucial runoff election is set to take place in Mississippi's 2nd Congressional District on Tuesday. The runoff will decide the Republican nominee who will challenge long-serving Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson in the upcoming general election on Nov. 5.
Following a three-person primary three weeks ago, Republicans Ron Eller and Andrew Scott Smith emerged as the top contenders, advancing to the runoff. The candidates are vying for victory in a majority-Black district that has been under Thompson's representation since his special election win in 1993. Notably, President Joe Biden secured a significant 27-percentage-point victory in this district in the 2020 election.
Thompson, the ranking Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, faced no opposition in the primary. He has outlined key priorities, including reducing prescription drug costs, supporting historically Black colleges and universities, tackling student loan debt, and advocating for fair taxation to bolster the middle class.
Eller, a military veteran and physician assistant, previously ran for the 2nd District Republican nomination in 2022. His platform includes backing the construction of a U.S.-Mexico border wall and promoting domestic energy production.
Smith, with a background in pumpkin farming and commercial real estate, aims to revitalize agriculture, enhance infrastructure, strengthen border security, and push for greater governmental transparency.
The 2nd district spans along the Mississippi River in the western part of the state, encompassing the Delta flatlands and the capital city of Jackson. In the 2020 election, the district favored Biden over Trump by a margin of 63% to 36%.
In the primary held on March 12, Eller secured approximately 47% of the vote, while Smith garnered 36% support.
