Voters in Mississippi’s capital city are headed to the polls today to vote in the municipal primary runoffs for Jackson’s mayor and two Jackson City Council seats. Polls are open in Tuesday’s primary runoffs, which are being held in cities and towns across the state, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Democratic and Republican nominees for Jackson mayor will each meet Independent candidates on the June 3 general election ballots.
Lumumba, Horhn Vie for Democratic Nomination for Mayor
Democratic voters in Jackson will choose today between incumbent Chokwe A. Lumumba and Mississippi Sen. John Horhn as the party’s nominee for mayor.
Horhn garnered a significant plurality of the vote during the April 1 primary but fell shy of the more than 50% he needed to avoid a runoff with the incumbent.
Horhn has secured endorsements from several prominent leaders, including U.S. House Rep. Bennie Thompson.
“I know that federal, state and local resources, along with private investments, are required to address Jackson’s many current problems and are essential for future long-term City of Jackson’s progress,” Thompson said in his April 16 endorsement. “After listening to and discussing with John his vision and plan, I encourage the voters of Jackson, MS to support John Horhn on April 22nd in the Democratic Primary Run-off Election.”
Horhn told the Mississippi Free Press last week that, if elected as mayor of Jackson, he would focus on “improving quality of life for Jackson residents through bringing in resources, improving the management of city services and infrastructure, growing our revenue, tracking our performance, and communicating effectively to the public.”
However, his first priority, he explained, would be “restoring trust, accountability, and transparency to the citizens of Jackson, county, and state government.” You can read more about Horhn’s thoughts on crime prevention, the 1% sales tax commission and the fate of the Jackson Zoo here.
Lumumba is vying to stay in the race for a third term as he awaits trial on allegations that he accepted bribes in his role as an elected official. The trial is set to begin on July 13, 2026.
In the weeks following the April 1 primary, Lumumba touted that his campaign for re-election was about “making sure that our city remains our city.” He told the Mississippi Free Press that, if re-elected, his third term will focus on making “greater progress in our efforts to address issues of gun violence and other violent crime,” building on the City’s efforts to eliminate blighted properties and complete projected repaving projects throughout the city.
You can read more about what Mayor Lumumba hopes to accomplish in a third term here.
On Tuesday, Republican candidates Kenny Gee and Wilfred Beal will face off in hopes of running against the ultimate Democratic nominee.
The Democratic and Republican nominees will face independent candidates Kim Wade, Rodney Depriest and Zach Servis in the June 3 general election.
Jackson City Council Races
Two Jackson City Council races are headed to runoff elections as well. Aaron Banks and Virgi Lindsay, the respective incumbents for Ward 6 and Ward 7, both declined to run for re-election.
Democrats Emon Thompson and Lashia Brown-Thomas are vying for the Ward 6 position to replace Banks, who faces federal bribery charges alongside the mayor and Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens.
Kevin Parkinson and Quint Withers are facing off today for the Democratic nomination for the Ward 7 seat. Whoever wins that runoff race will face independent Ron Aldridge in the June 3 general election.
Councilman Ashby Foote, Grace Greene, Marcus T. Jackson, Ray McCants and Aldridge—who are running as independent candidates for city council positions across Jackson—did not appear on the ballot on Primary Election Day but will face off against the Democratic and Republican nominees during the June 3 general election.
Anyone who voted in the April 1 primary may only vote in the same party’s runoff but are free to vote however they want in the June 3 general election. Registered voters who did not vote in the April 1 primary can vote in either party’s runoff today.
You must be registered 30 days before the date of an election, primary or runoff to cast a ballot in Mississippi and must bring an accepted form of voter ID. More information on voter ID, including how to obtain a free voter ID, is available here.
For questions, please contact the Elections Division at 1-800-829-6786, email ElectionsAnswers@sos.ms.gov, or visit YallVote.ms or contact the Jackson Municipal Clerk’s office directly at 601-960-1135.
