Longtime U.s. Rep. Bennie Thompson Defeats Young Democratic Challenger In Mississippi Primary

BOLTON, Miss. — Longtime U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson won nan Democratic information for Mississippi’s 2nd Congressional District connected Tuesday, beating backmost a superior situation from a young antitrust lawyer pinch acquisition moving successful Washington.

The 78-year-old civilian authorities leader who chaired nan House Jan. 6 Committee has held his spot for much than 3 decades and serves arsenic a ranking personnel connected nan House Homeland Security Committee.

He is 1 of respective long-serving representatives who person precocious faced guidance from younger members of their party. He was opposed by Evan Turnage, a 34-year-old who formerly served arsenic counsel to then-Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

However, Thompson easy defeated Turnage, overmuch for illustration he has pinch different superior challengers successful nan past.

“Seniority is really you get things done successful Washington,” Thompson told reporters connected Tuesday night. He noted that, if Democrats retake power of nan House successful November, he’ll go chair of nan committee overseeing nan Department of Homeland Security.

The 2nd District stretches from nan cardinal portion of nan authorities westbound to nan Mississippi River and is considered a Democratic stronghold, mounting Thompson up to triumph his 18th legislature term.

Thompson said he was looking guardant to getting backmost to Washington to reside nan partial authorities shutdown and push for transparency astir nan Iran war.

“We person to get Donald Trump successful check,” he said.

Dyamone White said she went to precocious schoolhouse pinch Turnage but decided to ballot for Thompson. She owns a business adjacent doorway to nan congressman’s Bolton, Mississippi, office, and she attended an predetermination nighttime gathering for him Tuesday.

“His activity and decades of work to nan territory and nan authorities of Mississippi is thing that should beryllium forgotten,” White said. “He has served his territory well.”

Turnage was portion of a activity of young Democrats hoping to oust older incumbents and usher successful a caller era. He staked his candidacy connected a connection of economical populism and formed himself arsenic a leader tin of knowing and regulating Big Tech and artificial intelligence.

“I tin only wish Rep. Thompson nan champion and dream that being granted different word pushes him to meet this moment,” Turnage said successful a connection conceding nan race. “Our group cannot spend different decade of nan same.”

Other races were besides connected nan ballot successful Tuesday’s superior successful Mississippi. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith defeated challenger Sarah Adlakha successful nan Republican superior arsenic she runs for reelection. In nan wide election, Hyde-Smith will look Scott Colom, who secured nan Democratic information complete candidates Priscilla Till and Albert Littell.

Colom is simply a territory lawyer whose earlier information to a national judgeship had been blocked by Hyde-Smith while President Joe Biden was successful office.

Incumbents often person nan advantage, and that includes Thompson. In summation to Turnage, he besides defeated Pertis Herman Williams III.

Marvin King, an subordinate professor of governmental subject astatine nan University of Mississippi, said Thompson’s 17 position successful Congress person made him an institution.

“He’s fundamentally been location for illustration half of people’s lives connected average,” King said. “No different challenger has efficaciously shown why Bennie Thompson should beryllium dethroned.”

Selket Myles, who lives successful Jackson, Mississippi, said she voted for Thompson, expressing assurance successful his acquisition and citing his activity connected nan House Jan. 6 Committee.

“He knows nan issues,” Myles said. ”That’s what makes maine spot him.”

In an question and reply conscionable aft polls closed astatine 7 p.m. section time, Thompson said he has spent his life creating opportunities for group who want to tally for agency and believes location is room astatine nan array for group of each ages.

“You make a prime to run, and I’ll proceed to conflict for you to person that correct to run,” Thompson said.

On nan Republican broadside successful nan 2nd District, nan superior was excessively early for The Associated Press to call. Ron Eller, a subject seasoned and expert assistant, and Kevin Wilson, an oilman and region supervisor, were separated by only a fewer 100 votes.

Thompson antecedently defeated Eller successful nan wide predetermination successful 2024, winning pinch 62% of nan vote.

Bates writes for nan Associated Press.