Sen. Cochran to resign April 1

U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) announced March 5 that he intended to resign from the Senate on April 1. Cochran, the senior senator from the Magnolia State, is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. The senator commented that “health has become an ongoing challenge” in a media release. “I intend to fulfill my responsibilities and commitments to the people of Mississippi and the Senate through the completion of the 2018 appropriations cycle, after which I will formally retire from the U.S. Senate.” Gov. Phil Bryant will likely appoint a replacement and call for a special election Nov. 6, the day of the general election, to allow pick someone to serve out the remainder of his term. Cochran’s decision may draw candidates from the race against Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) whose 6-year term expired. He plans to run for re-election. In March 2017, Cochran was recognized as the 10th longest-serving U.S. senator in American history. (Source: Sun Herald 03/05/18) As a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Cochran has worked to ensure that the U.S. Armed Forces remain the best trained and equipped, including support for the Navy’s shipbuilding programs and military installations across Mississippi. In 2010, he was presented the Herbert H. Bateman Award from the American Shipbuilding Association, as well as the Sea Service Award from the Navy League of the United States.