NEWS ANALYSIS
Nearly 40% of Mississippi legislators (69 of 174) won't have opposition this election cycle or until 2027. They can cast whatever vote they want to through the current session knowing they won't face any electoral consequences for those votes. For decades, the qualifying deadline for state/local candidates to file has been March 1. Party primary elections are in August and general election in November. Despite those late dates, the Mississippi Legislature set qualifying deadlines for Feb. 1 forcing people to make early decisions to be on the ballot against an incumbent. The reason for the early deadline is clear: Let legislators know learn about potential opponents and giving them time to take re-election friendly actions. Also, the early deadline could give incumbents financial advantage to raise campaign contributions. The result is that for more than half of the final session before the 2023 elections, 46 House members in the 122-seat chamber and 23 senators in the 52-member chamber have known they would have no opposition this election cycle. (Mississippi Today News Analysis 02/26/23) Early qualifying deadline gives many legislators free path this session - Mississippi Today
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