State Sen. Dr. David Parker’s announcement Thursday that he would not run for his seat in the federally-mandated 2025 special election quickly started the speculation mill about who would run for the seat.
As of Friday evening, the announced candidates from their respective parties for the Aug. 5 primary election in Senate District 2 were Southaven Alderman Charlie Hoots among the Republicans and Theresa Gillespie Isom among the Democrats.
Candidates have until Monday, June 9 at 5 p.m. to file and qualify with their respective state party executive committees. The parties then have a June 13 deadline to report their qualified candidates to the state Secretary of State’s office for the primary election ballot.
One name that will not be on the Republican ballot on Aug. 5 for Senate District 2 is state Rep. Rodney Hall (R-Southaven). Hall first informed DeSoto County News Friday morning that he had decided to stay in the House of Representatives.
Hall said many have reached out to him, urging him to run for the retiring Parker’s seat in the Senate, but he is opting out of a candidacy.
I’ve been deeply moved by the many calls, messages, and conversations urging me to run for his Senate seat,” Hall said. “I’m grateful for the encouragement and support from so many in our community—it truly means the world to me.”
Hall thanked Parker for his 12 years in the Senate. He then went on to say that his work at the Capitol is just beginning.
“I’ve worked closely with Speaker Jason White and House leadership to deliver historic, conservative wins for DeSoto County and for Mississippi,” said Hall. “We passed bold education reform that invests more in our schools and children than ever before, secured critical economic development and infrastructure investments—including the I-55 expansion—and advanced legislation that strengthens our economy, supports law enforcement, and defends our conservative values.”
The Southaven Republican believes the agenda in the House is reshaping the state, placing it to be a national leader and, “I’m proud to be on the frontlines of that effort, taking on greater responsibility and helping to lead a new generation of conservative leadership in Jackson,” Hall said.
Had Hall chosen to run for the Republican nomination, he would have been paired in the primary against Hoots, who he defeated in the 2023 primary for the House seat. Hall was unchallenged by the Democrats in the November 2023 general election.
Jon Stevenson and state Sen. Michael McLendon remain the GOP candidates for Senate District 1, and state Sen. Kevin Blackwell is the lone Republican for Senate District 19. Dianne Dodson Black has qualified as a Democrat to challenge Blackwell in the general election
