Cliff Johnson, a University of Mississippi law school professor, announced on Thursday that he will run as a Democrat for Mississippi’s 1st Congressional District seat in next year against Republican incumbent Trent Kelly.
Johnson, in a campaign announcement video, said that if elected to the seat serving northeastern Mississippi, he would work to expand access to affordable healthcare, protect Social Security benefits, and preserve the state’s land and water resources.
READ MORE: Field grows in Mississippi’s 2026 US Senate Race. Here are the candidates so far
“As Mississippians, we were taught that we are measured by how we treat those around us who are struggling and need help,” Johnson said. “But in Washington, too many career politicians have forgotten those values and callously bury Mississippi families under a heaping pile of oppressive policies that make life harder rather than easier.”
If Johnson wins his party’s nomination, he will face incumbent Republican Kelly, a former district attorney and a retired officer in the Mississippi National Guard. Kelly currently serves on the House Armed Services and Agriculture committees and on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
A spokesperson for Kelly did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Johnson’s campaign announcement.
Former state Rep. Kelvin Buck, a Democrat who represented Marshall County, has also qualified to run for the congressional seat.
So far, no Republican has filed paperwork to run against Kelly.
Johnson’s announcement follows several other candidates who have announced that they’re running for Congress in the 2026 midterm election.
Here is a list of other candidates who have announced they’re running:
2nd Congressional District
Bennie Thompson, incumbent Democrat Bennie Foster, Democrat3rd Congressional District
Michael Guest, incumbent Republican Michael Chiaradio, Democrat4th Congressional District
Incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Ezell, Republican Paul James Blackman, Democrat Sawyer Walters, RepublicanU.S. Senate:
Cindy Hyde-Smith, incumbent Republican Sarah Adlakha, Republican Andrew Scott Smith, Republican Scott Colom, Democrat Priscilla Williams-Till, Democrat Ty Pinkins, independentHence then, the article about field grows for mississippi congressional midterm elections was published today ( ) and is available on Mississippi Today ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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