Mississippi
Mississippi state party leaders discuss efforts with one week till election day
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – There’s no hesitation when you ask state party leaders what will drive Mississippians to the polls this election cycle.
“It’s going to be the presidential election.,” said Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman Cheikh Taylor.
“I mean, it’s a presidential ballot, and you’re going to have a high turnout because of that,” noted Mississippi Republican Party Executive Director Rance Bilbo.
History bears that out. There was a more than 100,000 voter difference from 2016 to 2020 in Mississippi, despite the fact that both were presidential election years.
However, 2020 also included medical marijuana and state flag measures. This go-around, there are down-ticket items like congressional and judicial races the parties are reminding voters about.
Although Mississippi is considered a red state, the GOP says that’s where they have to make sure voters don’t sit at home.
“I tell everyone, as I travel the state, the worst thing Republicans do is get complacent,” added Bilbo. “We have to run like we’re 20 points down. It’s going to be a tight race. I encourage every Mississippian to go out and vote because their future, their kids, and their grandkids depend on it.”
Governor Tate Reeves has shared a similar message in recent posts to his social media accounts, including videos of him speaking to voters.
“It doesn’t matter what I think,” Reeves said in one video. “It doesn’t matter what you think. It’s how you vote. So, what’s incumbent upon all of us is to work to turn out our friends and neighbors, sure, here in Mississippi, but in every swing state.”
Democrats say the last-minute change at the top of the ticket has added to voter engagement.
“We were kind of late in the game, you know, as she got endorsed less than 100 days out from the election,” said Mississippi Democratic Party Executive Director Mikel Boldne. “But we pretty much, we’ve had billboards that were, you know, established throughout the state in available areas. We also had radio messaging. We’d had people to volunteer to do virtual phone banking. We ignited our text banking.”
“We know that we’re not a battleground state,” added Taylor. “We know we’re not a swing state, but we still have a lot of activity going on for GOTV.”
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. next Tuesday, November 5.
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The mother of Nolan Wells, the 18-year-old found dead on Horn Island earlier this month, said Sunday that the funeral service would be private.
Christine Wonsley posted on Facebook that the service, taking place at a church in Ocean Springs on Monday, is only open to family, friends and classmates. The service will be live streamed by local news, she added.
Wells’ body was found on Horn Island, a popular barrier island in Mississippi, after a Fourth of July outing with friends. Authorities have not released a cause of death but the county’s sheriff has said there were no signs of foul play.
Ben Crump, a national civil rights attorney who is representing Wells’ family, is investigating the teen’s death, which has drawn national attention. Wells, who is Black, was pictured sitting on a boat with several white friends.
High-profile figures have stepped in to help raise awareness surrounding his death and cover costs, including filmmaker Tyler Perry, who is funding the funeral service. Civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton will officiate the funeral.
Wonsley told people to “stay home” if they are planning to attend the service to “meet someone famous.”
“Thank you again to all of those who are praying and supporting us as we continue to advocate for an honest and transparent investigation,” she wrote.
Wonsley has urged people to report AI-generated videos spreading false information about her son’s death on social media. She also said fake fundraising accounts have sprung up purporting to support her family.
Mississippi
Our Mississippi Magazine announces new class of ‘Most Influential African Americans’ statewide
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Our Mississippi Magazine introduced the newest class of the “Most Influential African Americans” across the state Saturday night.
The big winner of the lifetime achievement award was Bill Bynum, the CEO of Hope Enterprise Corporation, Hope Credit Union and Hope Policy Institute.
For over 30 years, he says his company has promoted homeownership and business growth for Mississippians from the city of Jackson up into the Delta – on top of investing in HBCUs, giving everyone an equal shot at success if they show potential.
“We all win when everyone in Mississippi has an opportunity to realize their potential. Whether it’s Black or white and in a state where the majority of the population is increasingly diverse, we cannot realize our full potential if we don’t invest in every Mississippian,” said Bynum.
A big congratulations also goes to WLBT’s very own Howard Ballou, who was also honored as one of the state’s most influential African Americans for this class of 2026.
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David Turner, who is in his third stint on the Mississippi State football staff, announced July 18 on social media that he is retiring.
“To the Mississippi State University family, community, my former players, current players and many friends, it is time for me to step away from the game that I love and have devoted over two thirds of my life to,” Turner posted on social media.
Turner was the Bulldogs defensive line coach from 2023-25 but was set to be a senior defensive line consultant under coach Jeff Lebby in 2026. Lebby hired Ty Warren from Rice to be the defensive line coach.
Turner was also the Mississippi State defensive line coach from 2007-09 and 2013-15. He has coached at multiple SEC schools, including Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Texas A&M and Florida.
“Mississippi State has been good to me and my family, and in the life of a college football coach, which is often a nomadic one, this has been home,” Turner wrote. “I never imagined after coming here back in 2007 that the relationships that me and my family would ultimately develop would run so deep.
“I want to thank all the student-athletes that I’ve had the privilege to coach over the last 40 years and more importantly all of the defensive lineman that allowed me to not only coach them but coach them hard and love them harder.
“Dblock is real and don’t ever forget it. My hope is that I’ve helped each one of you become a better man. I love you guys!”
Turner has coached 15 NFL draft picks in his career, according to his Mississippi State bio, and was responsible for signing Bulldogs star Jeffery Simmons, a Tennessee Titans first-round draft pick in 2019.
“I want to thank Sylvester Croom, Dan Mullen, Zach Arnett and Jeff Lebby for allowing me to be a part of your staffs, but more importantly your dream of building this program in to a program that all Bulldogs could be proud of,” Turner wrote. “I’ve been part of some great moments in MSU history.
“To the Starkville community, thank you for all you’ve done for me and more importantly, my family, this has been our home away from home.”
Mississippi State is expected to open preseason practice the first week of August, and the Bulldogs kick off the season at home Sept. 5 vs Louisiana-Monroe (6:30 p.m., ESPNU).
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
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