Rep. Toby Barker, R-Hattiesburg

State Rep. Toby Barker, R-Hattiesburg, announced his candidacy for mayor of his hometown Thursday morning.

Barker, who was first elected to the House in 2007 at the age of 26, made the announcement on Facebook. The short post was accompanied by a video featuring Hattiesburg residents who support Barker’s mayoral run.

“Regardless of how we each came to live here, the one thing that unites us is a love for this city (Hattiesburg),” Barker wrote in the post. “Though we have challenges, I believe they stand as an opportunity for us to come together, believe in ourselves again and work toward a positive future – a future built on quality education, state-of-the-art infrastructure and strong neighborhoods in every part of the city.”

Barker will not have to vacate his House seat during his mayoral run.

In late 2016, Sen. John Horhn, D-Jackson, announced his intention to run for Jackson mayor. Horhn is still serving in the Senate during the mayoral campaign.

Barker will square off against several opponents in the race, including current Mayor Johnny DuPree, who lost a general election gubernatorial race to Gov. Phil Bryant in 2011. Primaries will be held May 2. The general election is June 6.

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Editor-in-Chief Adam Ganucheau oversees Mississippi's largest newsroom. He was the lead editor of Mississippi Today's 2023 Pulitzer Prize-winning "The Backchannel" investigation, which exposed the roles of high-profile players in the state's welfare scandal. During Adam's tenure as editor, Mississippi Today has won numerous national, regional and statewide journalism prizes for its journalism. Under his leadership, the newsroom won a 2023 Pulitzer Prize and was named a finalist for a 2024 Pulitzer Prize; won two Goldsmith Prizes for Investigative Reporting; won a Collier Prize for State Government Accountability; won a Livingston Award; won a Sidney Award; and was awarded the National Press Club's highest honor for press freedom.

He previously worked as a staff reporter for Mississippi Today, AL.com, The Birmingham News, and the Clarion Ledger. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post and Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He earned his bachelor’s in journalism from the University of Mississippi in 2014.