JACKSON, Miss. โ The mayoral race in Mississippiโs capital city sees its incumbent, under federal indictment for bribery and conspiracy, battling to maintain his position. On Tuesday, Jacksonโs residents faced a familiar choice: Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, vying for a third term, clashed with state Sen. John Horhn in a Democratic primary runoff.
Sen. Horhn remarked, โThe people are eagerly awaiting a change. They desire new leadership, improved roads, reduced crime, and increased opportunities.โ In the 2017 Democratic primary, Lumumba had previously overtaken Horhn by securing 55% of the vote. This time, however, in the April 1 primary, his support plummeted to 17%, necessitating a runoff after Horhn captured 48% without gaining an outright majority.
Horhnโs campaign was bolstered by the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, who is a prominent Democrat and serves as the leading member on the House Committee on Homeland Security. Eric R. Schmidt, a government and politics professor at Millsaps College, identified this endorsement as a significant factor, highlighting Horhnโs close brush with an outright nomination and the shadow cast by Lumumbaโs legal troubles.
Lumumba was indicted alongside Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens and Jackson City Council member Aaron B. Banks last November. They are accused of accepting bribes from individuals posing as real estate developers, who were in fact undercover FBI operatives. The alleged bribes included a $50,000 sum intended for the mayorโs campaign. All three have denied the allegations, pleading not guilty.
Mayor Lumumba asserted, โThe narrative presented to residents would suggest reasons for our absence, but we aim to clarify that it misrepresents us.โ Schmidt conveyed that the winner of the runoff is likely to claim victory in the general election set for June 3, largely due to Jacksonโs demographics. The city boasts over 80% Black residents, the highest proportion in any major U.S. city, with approximately 25% of the population living below the poverty line.