Rep. Tyrone Ellis, a Democrat from Starkville, announced his retirement from the Mississippi House of Representatives this afternoon.

“I have truly considered myself blessed and privileged to have served the citizens of District 38, as well as the citizens of Mississippi as a whole over the years. However, the time has come to close this chapter of my life and allow God to utilize me in another capacity,” Ellis said in a statement.

Ellis was elected to the House in 1980.

He is a pastor at Running Water Baptist Church in Noxubee County.

Gov. Phil Bryant will call a special election to fill Ellis’ seat.

Ryan L. Nave, a native of University City, Mo., served as Mississippi Today's editor-in-chief from May 2018 until April 2020. Ryan began his career with Mississippi Today February 2016 as an original member of the editorial team. He became news editor August 2016. Ryan has a bachelor’s in political science from the University of Missouri-Columbia and has worked for Illinois Times and served as news editor for the Jackson Free Press.