Democratic candidates gather for forum in Yazoo City. See what they said

The 2023 campaign season kicked off Saturday in Yazoo City as several Democratic candidates for statewide office gathered for a campaign forum.

The Democratic candidates shared their campaign platforms to the voters at the “Meet The Candidates” forum held Saturday at the Yazoo City Boys and Girls Club.

Co-organizer Ty Pinkins, who is seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker in 2024, welcomed guests and introduced Shuwaski Young, a candidate for Secretary of State; Greta Kemp Martin, a candidate for Attorney General; and De’Keither Stamps, a candidate for Central Mississippi Public Service Commissioner.

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Also participating were Timaka James-Jones, a candidate for District 51 Mississippi Representative, and a variety of local Yazoo County candidates running for Sheriff, Constable, Circuit Clerk, Chancery Clerk. Supervisor, and Tax Collector.

Kemp Martin, who currently serves as an attorney for Disability Rights Mississippi, is challenging incumbent Republican Attorney General Lynn Fitch.

Kemp Martin described herself as a lifelong Mississippian, born in Tishomingo County who believes law enforcement should be “equally applied.” She criticized Fitch for “ignoring one of the worst scandals in state history,” referring to the investigation of welfare funds diversion during the administration of former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant.

“My opponent is more interested in helping her friends, Republican donors, and even NFL quarterbacks than serving the people of Mississippi,” Kemp Martin said of Fitch.

She also ridiculed the incumbent AG for suggesting the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturn of abortion rights would be “empowering” for Mississippi women.

“Lynn Fitch wrote and argued the case called Dobbs that brought down Roe v. Wade. Do you feel empowered? I don’t feel empowered,” Kemp Martin said.

Young, who will face off against incumbent Republican Secretary of State Michael Watson, blamed the state’s Republican leadership for making it harder to vote and described their efforts at voter disenfranchisement as being “archaic as Jim Crow.”

“Mississippi had the lowest voter turnout in the entire country in 2002," Young said. "Under no circumstances can we let that happen again this year.”

Young said he will make the expansion of voting rights, including online voter registration, early voting, and mail-in ballots, a key part of his agenda.

Of the welfare scandal, Young said, “We are going to make sure we restore trust. We will open an investigation — a proper investigation — on day one.”

Young also promised to work toward restoring Mississippi’s ballot initiative process and to expand Science, Technology, Engineering and Math educational opportunities for all students — not just the top students.

Stamps, who is challenging incumbent Republican Central Mississippi Public Service Commissioner Brent Bailey, acknowledged that services like water, sewer and natural gas are things that many people take for granted.

Stamps said, in the Delta and other poorer areas of the state there are still homes without basic water and sewer service, which he attributes to “failed leadership” and an effort to prioritize the needs of just “10 counties” over the needs of the rest of the state.

Stamps also called for expanding natural gas lines as a tool for economic development, expanding internet broadband services into rural areas, and building storm shelters for people to go to in the event of tornadoes or other natural disasters.

Although, the forum was open to all candidates, regardless of party, some candidates did not get an invitation, including Bailey.

"Me nor my campaign was ever contacted regarding this forum," Bailey said in an email after the event. "I would have gladly participated if given the opportunity."

James-Jones, who is running to serve in the state House of Representatives for District 51, said the expansion of Medicaid to Mississippi’s poor families will be her “real passion.”

James-Jones said the issue of health care is personal for her after a niece in her family died in route while seeking emergency care. There are currently no hospitals in Belzoni where she lives, James-Jones said. She will be challenging incumbent Democratic State Rep. Rufus Straughter in the August primary. District 51 covers a largely rural area in the Delta that touches portions of Humphries, Yazoo, Leflore, Holmes and Sharkey counties.

Pinkins, who will not face off against Wicker until 2024, said his top three issues will be jobs, health care and education.

“We need an economy that works for all Mississippians,” Pinkins said. The decision to deny Medicaid expansion “doesn’t make sense at all” given that at least 38 of the state’s 74 rural hospitals are in danger of closing, he said. And he touted the idea of building a new hydro-electric plant on the banks of the Mississippi River that could help power virtually all parts of the state.

Pinkins also defended abortion rights and criticized Wicker for supporting three Supreme Court justices nominated by former President Donald Trump who voted to repeal Roe v. Wade.

“A woman should make her own decisions about what happens to her body,” Pinkins said. He described himself as “an independently-minded Democrat” who will listen to the needs of his constituents — not blindly follow the dictates of party officials.

Primary Election Day for statewide, state district, legislative, county and county district offices will be Aug. 8. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. During the primary election voters can choose to vote in either the Democratic Primary or the Republican Primary in counties where both parties have fielded candidates. A voter is not allowed to vote in both primaries.

Primary runoff elections, where required, will be held Aug. 29. Those elections will narrow choices to the two top candidates from the Aug. 8 primaries where there were three or more candidates in a single race and no candidate obtained at least 50% of the vote. Voters who participated in an Aug. 8 party primary will be allowed to vote only in the same party’s runoff election.

The General Election day will be Tuesday, Nov. 7. This will be the election where nominees from both parties, as well as any independent candidates will compete against each other. This is normally the final election. However, a General Election runoff, which is rare in Mississippi, will be scheduled for Nov. 28 if required.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

• This story has been updated to reflect that Shuwaski Young is for online voter registration. An earlier version of this story stated otherwise.

• Also, this story has been updated to reflect that at least one Republican candidate said he was not invited to participate in the forum and would have if he had been invited. Organizers had said all candidates, regardless of party were welcome to attend. However, specific invitations were not extended to all candidates.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Democratic candidates for MS races hold forum on Saturday in Yazoo City