Former Rep. John Moore, R-Brandon

A special election will take place Feb. 20 to replace a lawmaker who retired amid a sexual harassment investigation.

Gov. Phil Bryant announced the election for House District 60, which Bryant formerly held and includes parts of Rankin County.

Former Rep. John Moore, a Republican from Brandon, cited health concerns for his abrupt retirement announcement. Moore underwent heart bypass surgery earlier in the year and missed part of the legislative session while recovering.

A day after Moore retired, Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, told Mississippi Today that his office had received multiple complaints of sexual harassment against Moore.

Special elections are officially nonpartisan. A March 13 runoff will be held if no candidate gets a majority of votes.

 

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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.