Hear from Gibbs, Lumumba as Jackson-area District 72 MS House runoff election approaches

In the runoff for Mississippi House District 72, which covers parts of Jackson and Ridgeland, Democratic primary voters will have a choice between two familiar last names in local politics, though both candidates are running for elected office for the first time.

Attorney and state Democratic Party executive committee member Justis Gibbs will face off against community activist and organizer Rukia Lumumba, and the winner will head to the House with no opposition in a November general election.

Gibbs, the son of the district's former representative, secured about 41% of the vote last week, while Lumumba, the daughter of former Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba and sister of current mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, got about 31%. Two other candidates combined for about 29%. Since no candidate received more than 50% of the vote, a runoff will be held Aug. 29.

Gibbs said he has learned a lot from watching his mother, former Rep. Debra Gibbs, D-Jackson, who served in the Legislature for more than six years. In particular, Gibbs said he saw how a representative can work across the aisle to find common ground through collaboration.

"That's how the most successful legislators, Democrat and Republican, bring back the most in appropriations for their districts for special projects," Gibbs said. "I've seen it done. I've watched my mother in this position for the last six years, and her voting record speaks for itself. She is a strong Democrat. However she is able to maneuver, strategize and not cut out other legislators simply because they do not agree on the same policies."

Gibbs said he will also prioritize collaboration, both between himself and other legislators and between himself and constituents.

"You have to be collaborative. People have to want to work with you. You can't get anything done in the legislative chambers by yourself," Gibbs said.

Lumumba acknowledged her family's work but emphasized that she is running on her own individual experiences and platform.

"I have a vision. I have a vision that is a little different than my father and my brother's," Lumumba said. "My father and my brother were concerned about Jackson. I'm concerned about Mississippi. I've seen what we need, and I've done work across the state to effectuate change, and I'm interested in Jackson and Ridgeland and my district, but I'm interested in Mississippi as a whole as well, and I want to see all of our lives improve."

Lumumba said she takes the title "representative" literally and will push for policies that she hears are important from her constituents.

"It's going to really matter what my constituents want and say, the priorities that they see are necessary, and that's what I'm going to do is I'm going to start with that. I have to start with surveying and polling," Lumumba said. "And yes, I already know some of it. I already know Medicaid expansion is a really important issue for my communities. I know that equal pay is a really important issue for our communities. I know that jobs and economic development is a really important issue for our communities. I know that fully funded education is critical to our communities. I know that healthcare and women's health is really critical for our communities."

Lumumba also said she would work across the aisle when common ground is possible, on those issues and on others like mental health access and criminal justice reform.

"These are things that I believe we literally can work across the aisle on. Medicaid expansion is going to be a harder one to work across the aisle on, but I'm willing to take that on, I'm willing to engage in that challenge. I'm willing to work toward that. I'm willing to do the hard work to getting us closer to uniting," Lumumba said.

Gibbs said he is not taking voters' support for granted in the final weeks of the campaign, despite the fact that many likely know his name and even voted for his mother in previous elections.

"I think that's why our campaign was so successful was that we are not taking any people's vote's for granted by advertisements, we're knocking on the doors and talking to the people and asking them their concerns," Gibbs said.

In those conservations with voters, both Gibbs and Lumumba are now making their final pitch to voters.

"My pitch is that we need a balanced legislator. We need somebody who will fight against unconstitutional bills, but still be able to bring resources back," Gibbs said. "When I talk to voters, people are concerned about local issues. They're concerned about the city streets. They're concerned about infrastructure. They're concerned about why their parks are not about the high-quality level that residents want their parks and recreations to be at. In order to actually change those things, you have to go up to the capitol and be able to work with the committee of appropriations."

"My final pitch is that it is time that we as community members move from being governed to having a full opportunity to be a part of the governing process," Lumumba said. "I'm running for state representative because I want to protect our democracy by increasing residents' access to information, and participation in the process. I believe that now is the time for courageous committed service leadership."

Primary voters in District 72 who voted in the Democratic primary last week, along with those who did not vote last week, will have the ability to cast their votes for either Gibbs or Lumumba on Aug. 29. Voters who voted in the Republican primary last week cannot cross over to vote in the Democratic runoff.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi House District 72 runoff candidates speak on Aug. 29 race