Incumbent Bennie Thompson (D), Evan Turnage (D), and Pertis Williams III (D) are running in the Democratic primary for Mississippi's 2nd Congressional District on March 10, 2026. Thompson and Turnage have led in media attention.
The primary is similar to other Democratic primaries this cycle, in which older, long-serving incumbents face challenges from younger candidates looking to change the party's direction. Associated Press' Sophie Bates wrote that Turnage's challenge is "the latest in a trend of young Democrats looking to oust the party’s old guard and rebrand the party after the 2024 election."
Thompson was first elected in 1993. Thompson is running on his record. In a Facebook post, he wrote, "Serving the people of this district isn’t just my job, it’s my honor and my responsibility. This work is rooted in the relationships built over time and the trust placed in me by the community I am proud to call home." He is also campaigning on preserving government services, and wrote in a newsletter, "I was proud to co-sponsor the Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025 and the Rural Health Clinic Location Modernization Act of 2025 to help families get the healthcare they need and to keep food on the table."
Turnage is an antitrust attorney and former counsel for Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). On his campaign website, Turnage says "he will stay focused on delivering real wins, stand up to Trump, and fight every day to ensure Mississippians can not only get by, but finally get ahead." He is also campaigning on affordability and antitrust measures, saying, "Affordability is at the top of mind for people. It’s not enough anymore to just say you’re a Democrat or you’re not Donald Trump. People want real plans."
The Clarion-Ledger's Charlie Drape wrote the election "[sets] the stage for a contest that could test whether seniority and national stature still outweigh calls for change in one of Mississippi’s most reliably Democratic districts." Turnage says that the district wants a change in leadership, saying, "I've talked to so many people and it's clear that there's an appetite for new leadership, an appetite for a fighter from Mississippi. This is the poorest district in the poorest state in the country. It was like that when [Thompson] was elected, and it remains that way today." Thompson has defended his record and says, "I am confident that my record on behalf of the people of Mississippi’s Second Congressional District will speak for itself. I will continue to run my campaign the way I always have. I trust the voters of the district to make their choice."
If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the primary will go to a runoff scheduled for April 7.
This page focuses on the Democratic primary in Mississippi's 2nd Congressional District. For more in-depth information on the district's Republican primary and the general election, see the following pages.
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