June 9, 2025 – Monday afternoon at 5 p.m. is the deadline for candidates to file qualifying papers in the Aug. 5 special election primary. Those candidates who qualify will be placed on the ballot of their respective parties. The candidates who advance past the primary will be on the Nov. 4 general election ballot. The remaining two years of the current four-year terms will be at stake.
Parties are not required to release the names of the qualifying candidates until June 13. The Mississippi Republican party has released their candidate names, however. The state Democratic Party will not release their names until after June 13, however local Democrats have informed DeSoto County News of two who are among their candidates for the primary.
They are Theresa Gillepsie Isom, running for the now-open Senate District 2 nod, and Dianne Dodson Black, who will be vying for the Democratic nomination in Senate District 19, now held by state Sen. Kevin Blackwell.
Blackwell has filed to qualify for reelection in District 19. State Sen. Michael McLendon is running for reelection in Senate District 1 but he is facing a challenge by Hernando-area businessman Jon Stevenson. Southaven alderman Charlie Hoots has filed to qualify for the GOP nod in Senate District 2.
More information is found on the Mississippi Secretary of State’s website.
🚨#ElectionAlert Click the link below to learn more about the upcoming Qualifying Deadline on June 9 for legislative special elections! #Elections101#TrustedInfo
Bob Bakken provides content for DeSoto County News and its social media channels. He is an award-winning broadcaster, along with being a reporter and photographer, and has done sports media relations work with junior and minor league hockey teams. Along with his reports on this website, you will find this veteran media member providing sports updates and high school football play-by-play on Rebel 95.3 FM Radio.
