It was a busy week in a now-crowded race for Senator Roger Wicker’s seat in the U.S. Senate. The first to throw their hat in the ring was state Senator Chris McDaniel. His announcement was swiftly followed by two Democrats; House Minority Leader David Baria and entrepreneur Howard Sherman.
McDaniel held a fiery political rally in his hometown of Ellisville to challenge Wicker’s voting record, Baria announced his candidacy on Twitter with a caption stating “I’m in!”, and Sherman did not make an official announcement, but has since made his first public comments as a candidate.
On his website, it states that Sherman and his wife, actress Sela Ward, and their two children have owned a farm in Meridian for over 25 years. In addition to his farming experience, Sherman touts over 30 years in the private sector and says that he has a plan to help stimulate Mississippi’s economy, improve education, and reduce health care costs.
“I’ve spent my career working with start-up and young companies to solve problems and spur growth,” Sherman said. “In doing so, I have mentored management teams, found creative ways to solve problems, and created hundreds of jobs, and I want to do the same here in Mississippi.”
Related: Two Democrats enter race to challenge Senator Wicker
“Sela and Mississippi have given me a home so I’m excited to apply my experience and what I’ve learned in the private sector to impact the state’s ‘kitchen table’ issues. We should have better healthcare. There should be more jobs. Our kids should have reasons to stay here after finishing their schooling, and there needs to be greater opportunity for all.”
In front of a crowd on Wednesday, McDaniel called for a change in Washington D.C. during his announcement.
“Why do you think that the same individuals that have been sent there time and time again, decade after decade, they go up there, fall in line with leadership? They’re more concerned with Mitch McConnell than they are you, and they keep voting your people into debt. They keep taking away our civil liberties,” McDaniel said. “At some point, we have to understand that doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results is the classical definition of insanity.”
Related: McDaniel officially enters GOP Senate race, Wicker responds
Incumbent Senator Wicker issued a statement after McDaniel’s announcement in the anticipation of the upcoming campaign cycle.
“Gayle and I are looking forward to this campaign and sharing my record of successfully fighting to reduce job-killing regulations, confirm conservative judges, enact historic tax cuts, rebuild our military, and honor our veterans. We will work hard to once again earn the votes and support of all Mississippians,” Wicker said.
Baria will hold an event later today to formally announce his campaign. The involvement of two candidates on both sides means that Republicans and Democrats will hold a primary election before the general election later this year.
