Democrats file for state Senate races

June 3, 2025 – Democrats Tuesday announced that two candidates have filed for Senate districts that are being contested in Aug. 5 primary elections leading to the November special general election.

Dianne Dodson Black has filed to run in the special election for Senate District 19, currently held by Republican state Sen. Kevin Blackwell (R-Southaven).

Black has been a cosmetologist and beauty salon owner in Olive Branch for over 40 years. She has previously been a Democratic candidate for U.S. Representative in Mississippi’s First Congressional District.

Three years ago, Black became the first Black woman in Mississippi’s First Congressional District to run for the U.S. House of Representatives when she was the Democratic candidate against U.S. Rep. Trent Kelly. Black also ran against Kelly two years later, but was defeated in both elections.

Black has advocated for Medicaid expansion in the state, supporting student loan debt forgiveness, protecting abortion rights nationwide, and raising the minimum wage.

Theresa Gillespie Isom has filed as a Democrat for the seat from Senate District 2 currently held by state Sen. Dr. David Parker (R-Olive Branch).

Isom has a background in healthcare education as an educator at the Delta Medical Center and is a retired nursing coordinator at the Tennessee Technology Center in Memphis.

Filing as a Democrat, Isom has made two previous attempts at politics. She ran for House District 7 in 2019, where she lost to Steve Hopkins. She also unsuccessfully ran as a candidate for Ward 2 Alderman in Olive Branch in 2021.

June 9 is the deadline for candidates to qualify for special primary election to be held on Aug. 5. The qualifying candidates from each party must be reported to the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office by the June 13 deadline.

The November election winners will serve for two years before being required to run again for a four-year term in 2027.