Mississippi Sen. John Horhn should be the next mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, U.S. House Rep. Bennie Thompson said in an official statement endorsing the state senator for the position on April 16, days before Horhn faces incumbent Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba in the April 22 runoff.
“I have represented parts of Jackson both as Congressman and county supervisor and I’ve worked with mayors, from Dale Danks to Chokwe Lumumba, Sr. and Chokwe Antar Lumumba, the current mayor. Given the many challenges facing Jackson, I am convinced that John Horhn is better suited to handle these challenges. During lengthy talks with John, he shared his vision for the City of Jackson about crime, public safety, urban blight, housing, economic development and transportation,” Thompson said in an announcement on Wednesday.
The congressman represents Mississippi’s 2nd Congressional District, which includes Jackson and most of the Delta.
He is the latest official to throw their support behind Horhn. Mississippi House Rep. Zakiya Summers, a Jackson Democrat, and Mississippi House Rep. Earle Banks, another Jackson Democrat, have also endorsed the longtime senator and both attended Horhn’s Oct. 3, 2024, campaign launch at the Jackson medical mall.
The City of Jackson holds “tremendous potential” and needs “a leader who sees not only the problems but the possibilities, and John Horhn is that leader,” Summers said.
‘I Have Concerns’
Horhn garnered over 48% of the vote during the Democratic municipal primary election on April 1, while the incumbent, Chokwe A. Lumumba, received 17% of the vote, securing a runoff election to stay in the race.
“This campaign is about making sure that our city remains our city,” Lumumba said in a speech to his supporters the night of the primary election. The mayor—who will face trial next year for federal charges related to a bribery investigation—vowed to change what he called a “false narrative” around his administration.
Some voters have voiced concerns over whether city-controlled assets will be threatened under Horhn’s leadership; the senator has a relatively friendlier relationship with Republican state leaders than the incumbent. Still, Lumumba and Horhn have both stood in opposition to state-sponsored attempts to wrest away control of Jackson’s assets.
Thompson addressed that concern directly on Wednesday, saying that Horhn is “100% opposed to the State’s hostile takeover actions of the Jackson Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport.”
“I know that federal, state and local resources, along with private investments, are required to address Jackson’s many current problems and are essential for future long-term City of Jackson’s progress,” Thompson’s April 16 endorsement states. “After listening to and discussing with John his vision and plan, I encourage the voters of Jackson, MS to support John Horhn on April 22nd in the Democratic Primary Run-off Election.”
Earlier this month, the congressman avoided directly endorsing a mayoral candidate while talking with constituents during a town hall meeting. Instead, he told voters to look at the track records of the candidates before casting their ballots for mayor and city council representatives.
“If people have a record, they need to run on that record. If it’s a bad record, you’re in trouble,” he said. “But you’ve got to defend it. I have concerns—I talk about it every day—but ultimately, the voters are the ones who are going to decide who will be the mayor and who will be the councilmen. The potholes, the crime, all of that is a concern.”
General Election Is June 3
The last day to vote in-person absentee is April 19. Municipal Clerk’s Offices around the state will be open from 8:00 a.m. until noon. After that, the only option for in-person voters will be on the day of the primary runoff: Tuesday, April 22.
All mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked by April 22 and received by the Jackson Municipal Clerk’s Offices by 5:00 p.m. on April 30 in order to be counted, the Secretary of State’s office says.
Whoever wins the Democratic primary runoff election will face off against the winner of the Republican primary runoff and the Independent candidates for mayor during the general election on June 3.
You must be registered 30 days before an election to cast a ballot in Mississippi and must bring an accepted form of voter ID. More information on voter ID, including how to obtain a free voter ID, is available here.
For questions, contact the Elections Division at 1-800-829-6786, email ElectionsAnswers@sos.ms.gov, or visit YallVote.ms or contact your municipal clerk’s office directly.
