Live results: Mississippi midterm primaries

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi Democrats will choose Tuesday between longtime U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson and his 34-year-old primary challenger in a race that reflects a generational struggle for control of the party.

Thompson, a 78-year-old civil rights leader who chaired the House Jan. 6 Committee and serves as ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, has held his seat for more than three decades. He is running against Evan Turnage, an antitrust lawyer who previously worked for top Democrats in Washington, and Burtis Herman Williams III, who has called for a new era of leadership.

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Turnage is part of a wave of younger Democrats hoping to unseat older candidates and usher in a new era. He staked his candidacy on a message of economic populism and presented himself as a leader capable of understanding and regulating big technology and artificial intelligence.

Turnage faces an uphill battle against Thompson, who has more than $1.5 million in his bank account. Since mid-December, Turnage’s campaign has raised just over $200,000 and has less than $40,000 left to spend.

Posing an additional challenge is Thompson’s advantage of holding the position.

Thompson’s 17 terms in Congress have made him an institution in a state where voters tend to re-elect incumbents, said Marvin King, an associate professor of political science at the University of Mississippi.

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“It’s basically been there for like half of people’s lives on average,” King said. “No other contender has demonstrated so effectively why Benny Thompson should be ousted.”

Thompson faced a few significant challengers from right and left, but none of his races were considered close, King said.

The two are competing for control of Mississippi’s 2nd Congressional District. The district extends from the central part of the state west to the Mississippi River and is a stronghold of the black Democratic majority in a primarily Republican-led state.

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Given the district’s demographics, whoever wins Tuesday’s Democratic primary is likely to win the general election in November.

On the Republican side, Ron Eller, a military veteran and physician assistant, is running against Kevin Wilson, an oilman and county supervisor. Thompson previously defeated Eller in the 2024 election, winning 62% of the vote.

-Sophie Bates, Associated Press