Many in Mississippi are quick to remember that Ronald Reagan stumped at the Neshoba County Fair on his way to becoming the nation’s 40th president in 1980. While no presidential candidates ahead of November’s election will be present at the annual event this week, national politics are nonetheless expected to overshadow the usual state political talk.
In a short span of eight days earlier this month, an already tumultuous presidential election was upended by an assassination attempt of former commander-in-chief and once again Republican candidate Donald Trump before his opponent and current President Joe Biden decided to drop out following in-party concerns over his mental acuity, paving the way for Vice President Kamala Harris to become the presumptive Democratic nominee.
The U.S. had not seen a turn of events as such in over half a century when in 1968, incumbent Democrat Lyndon Johnson dropped out in March and Democratic candidate Robert F. Kennedy was killed that same year in June. Throw in RFK Jr. as a third-party candidate and a modern-day political climate that many consider toxic, most to all Americans would tell you that the 2024 presidential election is like one that’s never been encountered before.
State Rep. Scott Bounds, who in his off time serves as president of the Neshoba County Fair, will be the first to remind you of the “unprecedented times” American politics currently live in. That’s why he believes the presidential election will overtake much of this week’s talk around Founder’s Square, the area of the fair designated for stump speeches.
“I feel like, personally, a lot of statewide officials will focus their speeches on what’s going on nationally right now,” Bounds said. “It’s unprecedented times. To me, it appears in my lifetime, we’ve never had so much happening in a period of 10 or so days that just captures the interest of the voters and citizens.”
Elected officials speaking at this year’s Neshoba County Fair include State Auditor Shad White and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann on Wednesday, along with State Treasurer David McRae, Secretary of State Michael Watson, Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson, House Speaker Jason White, and Gov. Tate Reeves on Thursday. It’s worth noting that a majority of those taking the stage are not only Republicans but outspoken supporters of Trump.
There are some outliers, though. Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Ty Pinkins is both expected to vie for himself against incumbent Republican Roger Wicker and for Harris as president. Pinkins was quick to publicly endorse the vice president upon Biden’s groundbreaking announcement.
Fairgoers can also expect Pinkins to point out that he challenged Wicker to debate him at this year’s fair, citing gubernatorial debates that have taken place in past years, but to no avail. Wicker, who was in Neshoba campaigning during the opening weekend, was not listed as a speaker due to Congress’ schedule. Members of the U.S. House and Senate have since returned home due to a standstill on a spending package. However, Bounds confirmed that no adjustments would be made to Wednesday and Thursday’s stump schedules.
One Mississippi election that politicos are watching closely lies in the state’s supreme court. Incumbent Jim Kitchens from the central district is facing four opponents: State Sen. Jennifer Branning of Neshoba County, Byram-based attorney Byron Carter, former state Court of Appeals Judge Ceola James, and Jackson-based attorney Abby Gale Robinson. Each candidate will be allotted 10 minutes to make their case to voters.
“Five candidates vying for that seat,” Bounds pointed out. “That’s going to make for some interesting topics of speeches on Thursday.”
Political speeches, which Bounds promises will also highlight the successes Mississippi has seen in recent years, will begin each day between 9:20 and 9:30 a.m. and last until 11 a.m. Reeves will be the final speaker as the governor generally closes out the political portion of the fair.
