Mississippi voters will cast ballots Tuesday to choose party nominees for U.S. Congress. All four of the state’s incumbent representatives and its junior U.S. senator are running for re-election in 2026, with the winners advancing to the Nov. 3 general election.
Currently, Mississippi’s congressional delegation comprises five Republicans and one Democrat. The only member not on the ballot Tuesday is Sen. Roger Wicker, who faces re-election in 2030. The primary races include contests for the U.S. Senate and all four U.S. House districts.
In the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, district attorney Scott Colom is competing against Marine Corps veteran Albert Littell and Priscilla Williams-Till, a distant cousin of Emmett Till. On the Republican side, incumbent Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith faces physician Sarah Adlakha. Hyde-Smith benefits from incumbency, campaign infrastructure and President Donald Trump’s endorsement. Democrats see her as vulnerable and plan to invest resources to flip the seat.
In the First Congressional District, Democrat Cliff Johnson, a University of Mississippi law professor, runs against former state Rep. Kelvin Buck. Incumbent Republican Trent Kelly is unopposed for the GOP nomination. In District 2, Democrat Bennie Thompson faces Evan Turnage, a former aide to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Elizabeth Warren, as well as Pertis Williams III, who focuses on agricultural issues. Thompson has represented the district since 1993 and is a prominent civil rights leader. On the Republican side, Kevin Wilson battles Ron Eller, a physician’s assistant and military veteran, who is seeking the nomination again after losing to Thompson in 2024.
The Third District Democratic primary features Michael Chiaradio, a former baseball player and regenerative farmer from New Jersey, running unopposed. Incumbent Republican Michael Guest also faces no opposition in the primary and has won three general elections since 2018. In District 4, three Democrats compete for the nomination: Jeffrey Hulum III, D. Ryan Grover and Navy veteran Paul Blackman. The Republican primary includes incumbent Mike Ezell, elected in 2022, who faces Sawyer Walters, Department of Marine Resources employee and Mississippi Army National Guard lieutenant.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
