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Mississippi Today

Only hope for legislative Democrats in November: ending Republican supermajorities

Published

2 years ago

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Even though all 122 legislative districts will be on the November ballot, Democrats have no chance of wrestling control from the Republican majority later this fall.

Democrats are not challenging in enough legislative seats to gain control.

Instead, the best the minority Democratic Party can hope for — if they draw a straight flush and win all their races — is to erase the Republican supermajorities in the House and Senate.

Currently, Republicans hold a 36-16 advantage in the Senate. On Nov. 7, Democrats have candidates competing in four Senate seats currently held by Republicans. Republicans, meanwhile, have candidates running in four seats currently held by Democrats.

If Democrats win the four Senate seats where they are challenging Republicans and win the four races where they are being challenged by Republicans, they would theoretically have enough votes to uphold a governor’s veto. If Democrat Brandon Presley were to upset Republican incumbent Gov. Tate Reeves on Nov. 7, that veto-related power would be a big deal. It takes a two-thirds supermajority, which Republicans currently enjoy, to override a governor’s veto.

Democrats, if they are extremely lucky, also could end the Republicans’ two-thirds supermajority in the House. Currently, Republicans hold 77 seats in the House compared to 40 for the Democrats (and three independents). There are two vacancies. But the two vacancies will be filled by Democrats who already have won primary elections and do not face November opposition.

On the other hand, thanks to legislative redistricting, Republicans are likely to win two of the House seats currently held by Democrats who are not seeking reelection. Republicans already have won one of those districts, including District 33 currently held by Rep. Tommy Reynolds. And in the other, District 75 currently held by Rep. Tom Miles, there is no Democrat running. In District 75, the Republican faces only third-party opposition.

In addition, a Democrat could capture the seat currently held by independent Rep. Michael Ted Evans, who is not running for reelection in his east Mississippi District 45.

If the Democrats capture all 12 seats where they are challenging Republicans and win Evans’ seat, they would have 53 members — far short of a majority in the 122-member chamber. But the Republican majority would be lower than the current supermajority. Of course, it is unlikely that Democrats will win all those seats and hold on to the four seats where they are being challenged by Republicans.

House Minority Leader Robert Johnson, D-Natchez, said legislative Democrats in Mississippi have faced numerous challenges this election cycle. The state Democratic Party, Johnson said, didn’t have money to recruit candidates. And they also face less-than-favorable maps thanks to the legislative redistricting plan adopted earlier this year by the Republican supermajorities in the House and Senate.

Johnson called the redistricting plan “egregious” for legislative Democrats.

“We have new leadership,” Johnson said of the Mississippi Democratic Party. “I am looking at this as a marathon, not a sprint. I think we will be in better shape in the future.”

There also are multiple third-party candidates competing this election cycle. Any win by those candidates could slightly alter the balance of power.

But perhaps the most telling aspect of this year’s legislative races is that 40% of the incumbents are unopposed in both the party primary and the general election.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.biloxinewsevents.com/?p=297280

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Mississippi Today

UMMC holds free cancer screenings

Published

21 hours ago

on

April 30, 2025

By

mississippitoday.org – @EricJShelton – 2025-04-30 12:00:00

by Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today
April 30, 2025

  • Resident physician Claire Babin, right, performs an oral cancer screening on Ella Holmes during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
  • Physicians prepare for oral, head and neck cancer screenings during a free screening event at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
  • Resident physician Brooks Lampkin, center, screens Diane Carter for oral cancer as medical students Mason Nodurft, left, and Eva Kiparizoska observe during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
  • Educational giveaways advocating against smoking are available during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
  • Sharon Terry, senior tobacco treatment specialist, waits for patients during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
  • Skylar Robinson, medical office assistant, left, and Kiandria Bruce, registered nurse, review materials at the patient sign-in table during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
  • Head and neck cancer literature is available during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
  • Dr. Alex Brooks and registered nurse Angela Noble talk during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
  • Nina Brown, clinical manager, helps Ned Bostic with paperwork during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
  • Resident physician Brooks Lampkin performs an oral cancer screening on Ned Bostic at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
  • Ned Bostic receives a neck cancer screening during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
  • Resident physician Brooks Lampkin, center, and medical student Hanna Watson examine Ned Bostic during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.

The University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery hosted a free oral, head, and neck cancer screening Wednesday at the Jackson Medical Mall as part of Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week.

The event featured quick, noninvasive screenings aimed at catching cancer early — when treatment is most effective. Onyx Care provided free HPV vaccinations, while the ACT Center for Tobacco Treatment, Education, and Research offered resources on smoking cessation and free services.

“These screenings take about 10 minutes and can save lives,” said Dr. Gina Jefferson, head and neck surgical oncologist at UMMC. “The earlier a cancer is diagnosed, the better chance we have of curing it.”

Tobacco and alcohol use remain major risk factors for these cancers. However, physicians say an increasing number of cases are linked to HPV, especially among younger adults with no history of smoking or drinking. Dentists are often the first to spot early signs, which can include persistent sores, lumps in the neck, or difficulty swallowing.

Oral, head and neck cancers are among the most common globally. When found early, survival rates can exceed 80 percent.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The post UMMC holds free cancer screenings appeared first on mississippitoday.org


Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

This article presents factual information about a free cancer screening event without showing a clear ideological stance. It primarily focuses on the health benefits of early cancer detection and the availability of free resources, such as HPV vaccinations and smoking cessation support. The language used is neutral and the content is centered around public health education rather than promoting a political viewpoint. The inclusion of factual statistics, such as survival rates and risk factors, adds to its informative and objective tone. There are no signs of bias or advocacy for a particular political agenda, making this a centrist piece.

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Crooked Letter Sports Podcast

Podcast: What next for Mississippi State baseball?

Published

22 hours ago

on

April 30, 2025

By

mississippitoday.org – @rick_cleveland – 2025-04-30 10:46:00

by Rick Cleveland and Tyler Cleveland, Mississippi Today
April 30, 2025

Mississippi State didn’t even wait until the end of the season to fire Chris Lemonis, who brought the national championship to Starkville not quite four years ago. Where do the Bulldogs go from here. Robbie Faulk who covers the Bulldogs more closely than anyone else joins the podcast to discuss the situation.

Stream all episodes here.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The post Podcast: What next for Mississippi State baseball? appeared first on mississippitoday.org

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Mississippi Today

Mobile sports betting users: We want to hear from you

Published

23 hours ago

on

April 30, 2025

By

mississippitoday.org – @MSTODAYnews – 2025-04-30 10:21:00

by Mississippi Today, Mississippi Today
April 30, 2025

Mississippi Today is looking to speak with current and former mobile sports betting users. We’d like to speak with people who spend considerable amounts of time and money betting on sports through online gambling sites.

We’re interested in hearing the experience of people who have suffered from gambling addiction or problems, or friends and family members of people who have. We also would like to talk with people who believe legalizing mobile sports betting would benefit Mississippi and its residents.

We want to hear from you. Please take the survey below or contact Political Reporter Michael Goldberg by email at mgoldberg@mississippitoday.org

TAKE THE SURVEY:

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This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The post Mobile sports betting users: We want to hear from you appeared first on mississippitoday.org


Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

This article from Mississippi Today appears to present a neutral stance, focusing on gathering input from various groups of mobile sports betting users, including those who may have experienced addiction issues. The content does not advocate for or against the legalization of mobile sports betting but instead seeks to gather diverse perspectives, including those of individuals who may support or oppose it. The language used is objective and does not suggest a particular ideological perspective, allowing for a balanced exploration of the issue at hand.

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