Analysis: GOP keeps control amid special legislative races

JACKSON — The Mississippi Legislature is already seeing some turnover just a few months into this four-year term, but it’s not enough to tilt control away from Republicans.

The term started in January, and two freshmen Republicans in the House stepped down just a few weeks later because of a dispute over whether they could collect their state government pensions while also serving at the Capitol.

One Republican representative and one Republican senator resigned mid-year because of health concerns. And one Democratic representative and one Republican senator stepped down after taking other jobs. Serving in the Mississippi Legislature is a part-time job.

Some turnover is common each term because of illnesses, deaths or career moves in the 122-member House and 52-member Senate.

Republican Rep. Robin Robinson of Laurel won a special election in June to fill the District 88 seat in Jasper and Jones counties, and she will finish a term started by Republican Ramona Blackledge of Laurel. Robinson took her oath of office Aug. 10 when the Legislature was briefly in session.

Blackledge is a retired Jones County tax assessor and collector. Republican Billy Andrews of Purvis is a retired Lamar County Court judge. Both were elected to the House in 2019 thinking that they could collect their pension and legislative pay, because of a legal opinion issued by then-attorney General Jim Hood, a Democrat.

Republican House Speaker Philip Gunn said in January that he disagreed with Hood’s interpretation of state law. Gunn also said that if legislators want to change the decades-old law that created a financial barrier for state retirees in House or Senate service, they should file a bill. One was soon filed and then killed during a hastily called House committee meeting.

Andrews resigned March 31 from the District 87 seat in Forrest and Lamar counties. Republican Gov. Tate Reeves set a special election to fill that seat on Nov. 3, coinciding with the presidential election. The candidates are David Wayne Morgan and Joseph “Bubba” Tubb.

After the other legislators stepped down, Reeves set those four special elections for Sept. 22. If runoffs are needed, they will be Oct. 13.

Candidates in Mississippi special elections run without party labels, but they often tell voters their politi

House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-clinton, back to the camera, swears into office Rep. Robin Robinson, R-laurel, right, as her husband, former Public Service Commissioner for the Southern District Sam Britton, left, holds the Bible, Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss. Robinson was elected to fulfill the unfinished term of former Republican Rep. Ramona Blackledge, also of Laurel. (Photo by Rogelio V. Solis, AP)