The first Democrat has entered the race for Attorney General.
Jennifer Riley Collins, the current Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Mississippi, officially kicked off her campaign at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum on Friday.
“The Attorney General has the primary duty to do justice. The Attorney General is responsible to serve the legal interests of the State of Mississippi. The best and legal interests of the State of Mississippi are to ensure justice is served for all Mississippians, and to protect our most vulnerable,” she said.
Collins went on to say that if she is elected, it will be a new way for her to serve the state and the country. After 32 of service in the U.S. Army, Collins retired with the rank of Colonel in 2017 after serving as an Intelligence Officer.
In addition to her time in the Army, Collins has been a civil rights attorney, and her campaign website states that “her legal career has put her on the frontlines fighting for criminal justice reform, juvenile justice, poverty, and voting rights.”
In her announcement, Collins outlined several focuses for her agenda, including combatting the opioid crisis, protecting vulnerable populations, and strengthening protections for victims of crime. Her website lists several other focuses such as “advocating for gender equality” and “fighting for our children’s future.”
Collins is a Meridian native, and she has three children.
If she becomes the Democratic nominee, Collins would face the winner of the Republican primary between Lynn Fitch and Mark Baker.
