Longtime Rep. Bennie Thompson Faces Primary Challenge in Mississippi

The 78-year-old civil rights leader and House Jan. 6 Committee chair is running against a younger, more progressive challenger.

Mar. 10, 2026 at 4:39am

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Mississippi voters will decide on Tuesday whether to send longtime U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, a 78-year-old civil rights leader and chair of the House Jan. 6 Committee, back to Washington or choose his 34-year-old Democratic primary challenger Evan Turnage, an antitrust lawyer who is part of a wave of young Democrats hoping to oust older incumbents.

Why it matters

The race reflects a generational struggle for control of the Democratic Party, with Turnage positioning himself as a leader capable of understanding and regulating Big Tech and artificial intelligence, while Thompson has held the seat for over three decades and is considered an institution in the state.

The details

Thompson, who serves as a ranking member on the House Homeland Security Committee, faces an uphill battle against Turnage, who has raised just over $200,000 since mid-December compared to Thompson's $1.5 million war chest. However, Thompson's incumbency advantage and the fact that he has easily defeated previous challengers from both the right and left make him the favorite to win the primary.

  • The Democratic primary election is on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
  • Thompson previously defeated Republican challenger Ron Eller in 2024, winning with 62% of the vote.

The players

Bennie Thompson

A 78-year-old civil rights leader who has held Mississippi's 2nd Congressional District seat for over three decades, serving as chair of the House Jan. 6 Committee and ranking member on the House Homeland Security Committee.

Evan Turnage

A 34-year-old antitrust lawyer and Democratic primary challenger to Thompson, who is part of a wave of young Democrats hoping to oust older incumbents and usher in a new era of leadership.

Pertis Herman Williams III

A Democratic primary challenger to Thompson who has called for a new era of leadership.

Ron Eller

A military veteran and physician assistant who is running as a Republican against Thompson in the general election.

Kevin Wilson

An oilman and county supervisor who is running as a Republican against Thompson in the general election.

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What they’re saying

“He's basically been there like half of people's lives on average. No other challenger has effectively shown why Bennie Thompson should be dethroned.”

— Marvin King, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Mississippi

What’s next

The winner of the Democratic primary on March 10, 2026 will likely succeed in November's general election due to the district's demographic makeup.

The takeaway

This race highlights the generational divide within the Democratic Party, with younger, more progressive challengers like Turnage seeking to unseat long-serving incumbents like Thompson. The outcome will shape the future direction of the party in Mississippi and potentially influence similar battles across the country.