DeSoto County special election flips Senate seat, ends Republican supermajority
SOUTHAVEN, Miss. (WMC) - Tuesday’s special election in DeSoto County resulted in three incumbents keeping their positions in the Senate, while one race flipped a seat from Republican to Democrat, helping end the GOP’s supermajority in the Mississippi Senate.
Democrat Theresa Gillespie Isom won the District 2 Senate seat by 21 points in Tuesday’s special election.
The seat was previously held by Republican David Parker before the district was remapped.
The special election was required after a federal judge ruled that the Mississippi Supreme Court electoral map violated the Voting Rights Act.
“Expressing my thank you to those that have worked with me, my supporters, the ones that canvassed and donated, and the ones that voted for me,” said Isom following the victory.
Republicans have held a supermajority in the Mississippi Senate for 13 years, which gave them a two-thirds majority. This allowed them to override gubernatorial vetoes without needing to cross the aisle.
“It would be an opportunity for the Democrats to play a positive part in what’s happening in Mississippi,” says Isom. “The supermajority won’t be able to just go in and make decisions without the Democratic party playing a part.”
Isom said she wants her seat to be a voice for the people in DeSoto County, supporting initiatives that are a priority for her constituents.
“It’s healthcare and education. So I will be looking at the bills and the resources that they have that are available that can help us in DeSoto County,” she said.
Turnout in DeSoto County was low for the special election, with fewer than 16% of registered voters participating.
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