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Game On in Mississippi

Posted by Matt Ortega on January 15, 2008 at 10:46 AM

The special election for the seat of retired Senator Trent Lott (R-Mississippi) will be on or before March 19, a judge ruled. Republican Governor Haley Barbour "exceeded his constitutional authority" by scheduling the special election for November.

In his order, DeLaughter said the election should be held "within 90 days of the governor's Dec. 20, 2007 proclamation of writ of election...on or before March 19, 2008.

Hood cited Mississippi Code 23-15-855, which applies to U.S. senator vacancies. He and Barbour have differing interpretations of that statute.

Several prominent local Democrats have jumped into the race to unseat Gov. Barbour's appointed replacement, Senator Roger Wicker. Mississippi Democrats can start the wave of Republican seats tipping over to the Democrats before the summer.

(Hat tip: Swing State Project)

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