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Voters wait in line to cast their ballots in Ridgeland on Nov. 8, 2016.

Candidates for the third congressional race filed first quarter finance reports this week, giving a first broad glimpse at who might dominate air waves between now and the June 5 party primaries.

U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper, a Republican who has served in the seat since 2009, announced in January that he would not seek reelection this year, spurring a flood of bids for the seat.

Eight candidates – six Republicans and two Democrats – qualified for the seat and have been campaigning since. The eight candidates will face off in their respective party primaries on June 5, and the two party nominees will square off in a Nov. 6 general election.

All but two candidates filed first quarter finance reports with the Federal Election Commission, which covers contributions and expenditures from Jan. 1 through March 31.

• Michael Aycox, a Democrat from Newton and corrections officer with the Mississippi Department of Corrections: Raised $100, spent $1,156, has -1,356 cash on hand.

• Sally Doty, a Republican from Brookhaven and state senator: Raised $65,000 (plus a $15,800 personal loan), spent $27,000, has $53,819 cash on hand.

• Morgan Dunn, a Republican from Magee and founder of a health care consulting firm: Raised $30,600 (plus a $73,000 personal loan), spent $626, has $103,000 cash on hand.

• Michael Evans, a Democrat from Philadelphia and poultry farmer has no statement of candidacy or financial data on the Federal Election Commission’s online database.

• Michael Guest, a Republican from Madison who is district attorney for Madison and Rankin counties: Raised $280,911, spent $64,700, has $216,213 cash on hand.

• Whit Hughes, a Republican from Madison who was past foundation president of Baptist Health Systems: Raised $304,354, spent $97,903, has $206,450 cash on hand.

• Perry Parker, a Republican from Seminary who was a stock trader on Wall Street and businessman: Raised $102,032 (plus a $240,000 personal loan), spent $69,498, has $272,533 cash on hand.

• Katherine Tate, a Republican from Jackson who was a public school teacher has no record of financial data on the Federal Election Commission’s online database.

First congressional district:

• Trent Kelly, the Republican incumbent from Tupelo: Raised $516,396 (since 2017), spent $538,239 (since 2017), has $125,043 cash on hand.

• Randy Wadkins, a Democrat from Oxford and a chemistry professor at University of Mississippi: Raised $87,743, spent $53,757, has $33,986 cash on hand.

• Carlton Elliott Smith, a Democrat from Holly Springs who is an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister: Raised $57,901, spent $38,780, has $3,581 cash on hand.

Second congressional district:

• Bennie Thompson, the Democratic incumbent from Bolton who is running unopposed: Has $1.3 million cash on hand.

Fourth congressional district:

• Steven Palazzo, the Republican incumbent from Biloxi: Raised $456,985 (since 2017), spent $322,349 (since 2017), has $366,334 cash on hand.

• Jeramey Anderson, a Democratic state representative from Moss Point: Raised $44,039, spent $23,487, has $21,352 cash on hand.

• Brian Rose, a Republican entrepreneur from Ocean Springs: Raised $11,291, spent $7,596, has $3,694 cash on hand.

• William Harrison, an Independent: No financial data available on the Federal Election Commission’s online database.


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Adam Ganucheau, as Mississippi Today's editor-in-chief, oversees the newsroom and works with the editorial team to fulfill our mission of producing high-quality journalism in the public interest. Adam has covered politics and state government for Mississippi Today since February 2016. A native of Hazlehurst, Adam has worked as a staff reporter for AL.com, The Birmingham News and The Clarion-Ledger and his work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post and Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Adam earned his bachelor’s in journalism from the University of Mississippi.