JACKSON, Miss.—Longtime Democratic Mississippi Sen. John Horhn will be the next mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, after garnering over 67% of the vote on June 3, unofficial results show.
“Now, the election is over and we’re ready to get to work,” Horhn told a crowd of supporters during his victory speech at The Plant Venue on Commerce Park Drive.
Horhn’s wife, Lydia Gail Horhn, and his daughter, Charla Horhn, stood by his side. Other supporters, including Mississippi House Rep. Justis Gibbs, stood behind him.
‘Our City Deserves Better’
Voters nominated John Horhn as the Democratic candidate for mayor in a landslide over incumbent Democratic Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba during the April 22 primary run-off election.
This year was Horhn’s fourth campaign for Jackson’s mayoral seat. Heading into the municipal primary election, some voters expressed discontentment with the current mayor, who faces trial on federal bribery charges in 2026—accusations that he has fervently denied.
During his municipal primary election victory speech this year, Horhn referred to himself as the “little engine that could.”
“We all know the story of the little engine that was just trying to get up the mountain. He had perseverance and persistence,” he said on April 22.
On Tuesday, more than 15 years after first running for mayor of Jackson, Horhn defeated independent candidates Lillie Stewart-Robinson, Zach Servis, Rodney DePriest and Kim Wade, as well as Republican Kenny Gee, to claim victory. DePriest finished second behind Horhn with just under 28% of the vote.
Although Wade unofficially exited the race in May and endorsed DePriest for the position, his name still appeared on the ballot for mayor.
Jackson voters have not elected a Republican as mayor of Jackson since Allen C. Thompson, who led the capital city from 1948 to 1969; Democrats have led the capital city ever since.
Horhn’s victory this year comes after an election cycle fraught with conversations about transparency in local government and questions about his relationships with lawmakers on both sides of politics.
State lawmakers had been particularly active in their attempts to wrest control of certain Jackson assets, like the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport, away from the City and to give it to either regional or state-controlled entities.
But in his 32-year tenure as a state senator, Horhn himself has spoken out against many of those attempts. Throughout his campaign, he argued that the relationships he has built with state lawmakers would benefit the City of Jackson, not place it under greater threat of takeover.
“Our city deserves better than it’s been getting. We deserve better, thriving businesses, streets that are safe, infrastructure that works, communities that are well kept and opportunities that lift every single neighborhood in this great city,” Horhn said Tuesday.
‘Now is the Time for Unity’
Prominent figures like Democratic U.S. House Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, Mississippi House Rep. Zakiya Summers, Mississippi House Rep. Earle Banks and Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones all endorsed Horhn for the position leading up to the general election.
As a crowd of supporters looked on, the senator said his goal is to unify Jackson and extended an invitation to his opponent to help in his efforts. “We want to work with you to rebuild this great city. Now is the time for unity and I hope you’ll join us as we begin to put in the work,” he said.
“Together, we will build Jackson into a forward-thinking city that puts its citizens first and collaborates with our county, state and federal partners to strengthen Jackson as the capital city of the great state of Mississippi,” the mayor-elect continued. “As Jackson goes, so will go the state of Mississippi.”
Horhn delivered the following directive before leaving the stage: “Jackson is ready. I’m ready. Now let’s get to work.” As he stepped offstage, a horde of supporters surrounded him, some seeking a photo with their new mayor, others wanting only to congratulate him.
City Council Results
Voters also elected city council members on Tuesday. All incumbents who ran for re-election maintained their seats.
In a tight race, Ashby Foote, the incumbent for Ward 1, maintains a slight lead in his bid to secure another term. Independent Grace Greene trails closely behind while Democrat Jasmine Barnes is in third. However, as of the morning of June 4, the race was still too close to call and officials were still counting absentee ballots.
Tina Clay defeated Bethany Williams-Sheriff to secure her first full term as the Ward 2 City Councilwoman. Clay first won the seat after voters elected her in a special election to fill the seat vacated by former councilwoman Angelique Lee, who stepped down and pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges on Aug. 14, 2024.
Voters re-elected long-running Ward 3 City Councilman Kenneth Stokes over independent Marques Jackson.
Incumbent Ward 4 City Councilman Brian Grizzell won his Democratic primary in April and entered the general election unopposed.
Incumbent Democrat Vernon Hartley defeated independent candidate Ray McCants to retain the Ward 5 city council position.
Democrat Lashia-Brown Thomas won the Ward 6 primary runoff in April and was unopposed in the general election.
Kevin Parkinson outlasted Republican candidate Taylor Turcotte and independent Ron Aldridge for the Ward 7 seat.
The terms for current mayor and city council members end on June 30, City of Jackson Clerk Angela Harris told the Mississippi Free Press on June 3. Incoming officials start their positions on July 1.
Comments are closed.