Kitchens: The Primary That Should Have Statewide Candidates Paying Attention
By Kit Kitchens
The Republican primary between state Sen. Michael McLendon and developer challenger Jon Stevenson wasn’t just another local race, it was a clear signal to anyone paying attention ahead of Mississippi’s statewide election cycle.
DeSoto County has long been known as a conservative stronghold, but if this election has proven anything, it’s that our county is more conservative than ever.
Even in a low-turnout race, the margins told the story: the voters who showed up knew exactly what they wanted and what they didn’t.
McLendon carried DeSoto County by a margin of two-to-one, and in neighboring Tate County the margin was even more lopsided, five-to-one. In politics, winning by a margin of 10 percent is a landslide. Winning by nearly 40 percent signifies a level of unity by the voters that is rarely seen. These numbers matter. They show a decisive mandate, not a divided electorate.
And here’s what makes it even more significant: the establishment pulled every trick in the book. A $12 million Washington Super PAC seems to have flooded the district with A.I. mailers and shady robocalls. Multiple mayors and legislators lined up with endorsements. Big developers poured in money.
Yet despite all of that, the voters not only rejected that message, the margin of victory suggests their tactics may have widened the gap instead of narrowing it.
The people of DeSoto and Tate counties don’t take kindly to outsiders or insiders trying to buy their voice. That is apparent – or at least to the ones who pay attention to local races.
As far as what DeSoto Countians don’t want? They don’t want unchecked developments that change the character of our communities. They don’t want forced annexation schemes that expand government and taxes. And they certainly don’t want Washington Super PACs parachuting in with dark money to tell DeSoto County how to vote.
As far as the Super PAC is concerned, we will know more about where they spent that money, who received it, and who gave it in January at the next mandatory reporting deadline for federal PACs.
What we know for now, is that the PAC that got involved to help Stevenson had big money behind it. And it has close ties to Empower Mississippi, which was all discovered through election finance records.
This election also shattered a myth too many politicians cling to. Endorsements don’t carry weight here. If anything, they can backfire. Voters are smart. When they see mayors and legislators lining up behind a candidate, they don’t automatically fall in line, they ask questions. And this time, the answer from the people was a resounding “No thank you.”
For anyone considering statewide or regional office, take note. DeSoto County is one of the largest and most influential counties in Mississippi. The sheer number of Republican primary voters here means no serious candidate can afford to ignore it. But more importantly, candidates who want to succeed here have to understand the people. They have to know what voters want and what they don’t.
At the end of the day (or this election), DeSoto County is still, perhaps more than ever, a conservative backbone of Mississippi. And anyone with statewide or regional ambitions should pay close attention to how the voters here think, speak, and vote.
Note: Kit Kitchens is Ward 5 Alderman in Hernando. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author and not necessarily those of this publication.
