Bennie Thompson Wins Democratic Primary in Mississippi's 2nd District

Bennie G. Thompson swept to victory in the Democratic primary for Mississippi's 2nd Congressional District on March 10, capturing 61,174 votes — 86.1% of the total — against two challengers, according to results compiled by the New York Times. The Associated Press called the race for the 78-year-old incumbent, who was seeking an 18th term representing Central Mississippi, including parts of Jackson and the Delta.

In Quitman County, Thompson carried the margin by 73 percentage points, with 792 votes counted and 92% of precincts reporting. That performance mirrored results across the district's Delta and river counties: neighboring Tunica gave him a 80-point margin, Carroll a 62-point edge, and Montgomery a 81-point advantage with more than 95% of its vote in.

Challenger Evan Turnage, a 34-year-old antitrust lawyer who formerly served as counsel to then-Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, received 8,947 votes — 12.6% of the total. Pertis Williams III finished with 896 votes, or 1.3%. By 8:50 p.m. on election night, with only 30% of precincts reporting, Thompson was already running at 86% to Turnage's 13%.

Thompson released a statement Tuesday evening via social media, saying he was "deeply grateful" to everyone who "believed in this journey" and "trusted" him with continuing to serve. Marvin King, an associate professor of political science at the University of Mississippi, told the Los Angeles Times that Thompson's tenure in Congress — spanning more than three decades — has made him an institution.

Turnage, in a statement to the Clarion-Ledger, offered a pointed concession. "Unfortunately, when the sun rises tomorrow, this will still be the poorest district in the poorest state in the nation," he wrote. "That will not change without leadership committed to reversing the brain drain that has plagued our state for decades and leveling the playing field so people here can not only get by but get ahead." In a separate statement conceding the race, he added: "I can only wish Rep. Thompson the best and hope that being granted another term pushes him to meet this moment. Our people cannot afford another decade of the same."

Thompson, who chaired the House January 6 Committee and currently serves as ranking member on the House Homeland Security Committee, will face a Republican opponent in November. The Cook Political Report rated the 2nd District race as solidly Democratic before the primary, giving the primary winner a strong advantage in the fall. At the time of the Clarion-Ledger's election night publication, the Republican primary for the seat had not yet been called.