Mississippi Voters to Decide Longtime Rep. Thompson's Future

78-year-old civil rights leader faces generational challenge from 34-year-old lawyer in Democratic primary

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Mississippi Democrats will decide on Tuesday between longtime U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, a 78-year-old civil rights leader who has held the seat for over three decades, and his 34-year-old primary challenger Evan Turnage, an antitrust lawyer who is part of a wave of young Democrats hoping to oust older incumbents. The race reflects a generational struggle for control of the party.

Why it matters

Thompson's 17 terms in Congress have made him an institution in Mississippi, where voters tend to reelect incumbents. Turnage is running on a message of economic populism and regulating Big Tech, posing a challenge to the veteran congressman. The outcome will determine the direction of the Democratic party in the state.

The details

Turnage has raised just over $200,000 since mid-December and has under $40,000 left to spend, compared to Thompson's $1.5 million war chest. Despite facing a few meaningful challengers over the years, Thompson has never had a close race. The 2nd Congressional District, which Thompson represents, is a majority-Black Democratic stronghold in a Republican-led state.

  • Mississippi Democrats will vote in the primary 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 who previously worked for top Democrats in Washington and is part of a wave of young Democrats challenging older incumbents with a message of economic populism and regulating Big Tech.

Ron Eller

A military veteran and physician assistant who is running as the Republican candidate in Mississippi's 2nd Congressional District.

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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 (wbal.com)

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 reflects the generational struggle within the Democratic party, as young challengers like Turnage seek to unseat long-serving incumbents like Thompson. The outcome will shape the direction of the party in Mississippi and could have broader implications for the national party.