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Mississippi Senate has least number of retirements since 2011 | Mississippi

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Mercedes Yanora | Ballotpedia via The Center Square – 2023-07-13 10:33:00

Three incumbents did not file for re-election to Mississippi’s Senate in 2023. This was the lowest number of retirements since 2011 and a 66% decrease from the average of 8.7 retirements per cycle between 2011 and 2019.

Mississippi is holding its primary on August 8, with a primary runoff on August 29. The general election is on November 7 of this year. All 52 seats in the Mississippi Senate are up for election.

Further, 16 incumbents in the 52-member Senate face primary challengers compared to 32 in the 122-member House.

Ballotpedia identified eight battleground primaries in Mississippi’s Senate based on media coverage and endorsements. Of the eight primaries, six are Republican and two are Democratic. Six of these primaries feature incumbents, while two are in open districts.

Democratic battlegrounds:

  • Mississippi Senate District 27: Incumbent Hillman Frazier and Marvin Hightower are running in the primary for Senate District 27. Frazier and Hightower ran against each other in the same primary in 2019. Frazier won the election with 62% of the vote to Hightower’s 38%. The Mississippi Association of Educators endorsed Frazier.
  • Mississippi Senate District 29: Incumbent David Blount and Dwayne Pickett are running in the primary for Senate District 29. The Mississippi Association of Educators endorsed Blount.

For Democrats, campaign priorities and messages include: civil rights, economic development, public safety, education, police reform, healthcare, and infrastructure.

Republican battlegrounds:

  • Mississippi Senate District 6: Incumbent Chad McMahan and Lauren Smith are running in the primary for Senate District 6. The Mississippi Association of Educators endorsed McMahan, while the Mississippi Freedom Caucus endorsed Smith.
  • Mississippi State Senate District 9: Incumbent Nicole Boyd and Ricky Caldwell are running in the primary for Senate District 9. The Mississippi Association of Educators endorsed Boyd, while the Mississippi Freedom Caucus endorsed Caldwell.
  • Mississippi State Senate District 15: Incumbent Bart Williams and Alan Sibley are running in the primary for Senate District 15. The Mississippi Association of Educators endorsed Williams, while the Mississippi Freedom Caucus endorsed Sibley.
  • Mississippi State Senate District 19: Incumbent Kevin Blackwell and Walter Hopper are running in the primary for Senate District 19. The Mississippi Freedom Caucus endorsed Hopper.
  • Mississippi State Senate District 36: Jared Morrison and Brian Rhodes are running in the primary for Senate District 36. This district is open, meaning no incumbents are running.
  • Mississippi State Senate District 42: Don Hartness and Robin Robinson are running in the primary for Senate District 42. Robinson has served in the Mississippi House since 2020. This district is open, meaning no incumbents are running. The Mississippi Freedom Caucus endorsed Hartness.

For Republicans, campaign priorities and messages include: education, constitutional rights, cutting taxes, conservative values, public safety, second amendment rights, and election integrity.

CNalysis rates each election based on the likelihood of a Democratic or Republican victory. Currently, the outlet rates 11 elections as Uncontested Democratic and four as Solid Democratic. It rates 26 elections as uncontested Republican, 10 as solid Republican, and one as very likely Republican.

Learn more about the Mississippi Senate elections and the battleground elections Ballotpedia identified.

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News from the South - North Carolina News Feed

Stein pitches unity, pledges work through strength and resilience | North Carolina

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – 2025-01-11 16:37:00

SUMMARY: During his inaugural address in the North Carolina Capitol, Democratic Gov. Josh Stein emphasized the importance of bipartisan cooperation to strengthen the state. Acknowledging challenges such as Hurricane Helene recovery, he called on the Republican-majority General Assembly to collaborate and address issues like teacher pay, public school funding, and economic opportunity. Stein highlighted the need for “good-paying” jobs and infrastructure investment while advocating for progress in education and public safety. Despite potential political differences, he reiterated the belief that effective solutions don’t adhere to party lines, expressing a commitment to serve all North Carolinians and earn their trust during his term.

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News from the South - North Carolina News Feed

Raleigh receiving federal $2.4M electric vehicle infrastructure grant | North Carolina

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – 2025-01-10 15:35:00

SUMMARY: Raleigh, North Carolina, is set to receive over $2.4 million from the Biden administration’s recent $635 million grant for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, part of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This funding will install 56 EV charging ports, focusing on serving multifamily residents and local governments, with two-thirds allocated to disadvantaged communities. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized these investments aim to ease EV charging access nationwide. North Carolina currently has around 120,000 zero-emission vehicle registrations, with a goal of reaching 1.25 million by 2030, requiring an accelerated pace of adoption.

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News from the South - Florida News Feed

Florida boasted record 89.7% graduation rate in 2024 | Florida

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Steve Wilson | The Center Square – 2025-01-10 14:29:00

SUMMARY: Florida’s high school graduation rate rose to a record 89.7% in the 2023-24 school year, an increase of 1.7% from the previous high of 86.9% in 2018-19. The rate improved by 2.4% compared to the 2021-22 school year. Governor Ron DeSantis attributed this success to prioritizing education and empowering parents. Improvements were seen across various demographic groups, including a 2.1% increase for Black students and a significant 4.6% rise for English language learners. Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. emphasized this achievement as evidence of Florida’s commitment to a quality education tailored to student needs.

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