Voters in Jackson are gearing up for municipal elections, with the mayoral race between State Sen. John Horhn and independent Rodney DePriest potentially ending with a historic outcome.During a political forum at Anderson United Methodist Church, both Horhn and DePriest made their final pitches to voters ahead of Tuesday’s decisive general election.”I’m just thinking trying to get the best one in that’s going to do what Jackson needs to be done,” said Jackson voter George Sutton.Many believe the race is Horhn’s to lose, given the city’s 80-plus percent African American population, which traditionally votes Democratic. However, campaign veterans suggest Horhn has lost momentum since his runoff victory over incumbent Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, with some supporters shifting their allegiance to DePriest. This shift raises the possibility that Jackson could elect its first white mayor in nearly 40 years.DePriest said he has built strong relationships within the Black community through weekly Bible studies at Jim Hill and Lanier high schools. “We haven’t run polls; we don’t run polls. The idea for Rodney to run for mayor started in the Black community,” DePriest said. “The only time I encounter a question of whether a white guy can really win is in the white community. And I understand that. Historically, let’s just look where we are. So I don’t question people bringing that point up.”Horhn’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment, but he believes he has a strong base of support. “If you look at the numbers from the primary and the runoff we’ve already I think attracted the confidence of the voters in Jackson,” Horhn recently told 16 WAPT News. Horhn won 49 percent of the vote in the primary among 12 candidates. “We took 75 percent in our run against an eight-year incumbent,” Horhn said. “We think if you look at the rest of the field that’s remaining there’s no question we’re head and shoulders more qualified.”According to the city clerk’s office, more than 500 absentee ballots have been cast.
Voters in Jackson are gearing up for municipal elections, with the mayoral race between State Sen. John Horhn and independent Rodney DePriest potentially ending with a historic outcome.
During a political forum at Anderson United Methodist Church, both Horhn and DePriest made their final pitches to voters ahead of Tuesday’s decisive general election.
“I’m just thinking trying to get the best one in that’s going to do what Jackson needs to be done,” said Jackson voter George Sutton.
Many believe the race is Horhn’s to lose, given the city’s 80-plus percent African American population, which traditionally votes Democratic. However, campaign veterans suggest Horhn has lost momentum since his runoff victory over incumbent Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, with some supporters shifting their allegiance to DePriest. This shift raises the possibility that Jackson could elect its first white mayor in nearly 40 years.
DePriest said he has built strong relationships within the Black community through weekly Bible studies at Jim Hill and Lanier high schools.
“We haven’t run polls; we don’t run polls. The idea for Rodney to run for mayor started in the Black community,” DePriest said. “The only time I encounter a question of whether a white guy can really win is in the white community. And I understand that. Historically, let’s just look where we are. So I don’t question people bringing that point up.”
Horhn’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment, but he believes he has a strong base of support.
“If you look at the numbers from the primary and the runoff we’ve already I think attracted the confidence of the voters in Jackson,” Horhn recently told 16 WAPT News.
Horhn won 49 percent of the vote in the primary among 12 candidates.
“We took 75 percent in our run against an eight-year incumbent,” Horhn said. “We think if you look at the rest of the field that’s remaining there’s no question we’re head and shoulders more qualified.”
According to the city clerk’s office, more than 500 absentee ballots have been cast.
