On January 31, 2020, Mississippi representative Ramona Blackledge (R) resigned from the Mississippi House of Representatives after being sworn in earlier in the month. Blackledge stepped down to maintain her Public Employees Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS) retirement benefits.

Blackledge’s resignation came after Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn (R) stated that he would not challenge a section of the Mississippi Administrative Code which prohibits recipients of Mississippi’s public employees’ retirement system benefits from also receiving a salary from the state.

Blackledge had served in the Jones County tax collectors and assessors office before her election as a state representative. A special election will be held to fill the vacancy created by Blackledge’s resignation. Details about this upcoming special election, including when it will be held, have not yet been released.

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