Eller wins Republican runoff in Mississippi 2nd District, will face Democratic Rep. Thompson
In this photo provided by the Ron Eller for Congress Campaign, Republican candidate Eller poses for a photo. Eller, who was one of the top two vote-getters in the March 12, 2024, primary, did not received the vote majority needed to avoid a runoff election on Tuesday, April 2. Credit: AP/Eric Eller
JACKSON, Miss. — Ron Eller won a Republican primary runoff Tuesday in Mississippi’s 2nd Congressional District and will face longtime Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson in the Nov. 5 general election.
Eller, who is a military veteran and physician assistant, defeated Andrew Scott Smith, who has worked in farming and commercial real estate. They had advanced to the Republican runoff as the top candidates in a three-person primary March 12.
Thompson has represented the majority-Black district since winning a special election in 1993, and President Joe Biden won the district by 27 percentage points in 2020.
Thompson is the ranking Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee and was unopposed for his party’s nomination in the district this year. Thompson said he wants to decrease prescription drug costs, invest in historically Black colleges and universities, reduce student loan debt and build the middle class “by making sure the wealthy pay their fair share.”
Eller, who ran unsuccessfully for the 2nd District Republican nomination in 2022, has said he supports construction of a U.S.-Mexico border wall and expansion of domestic energy production.
After winning the runoff Tuesday, Eller told The Associated Press that he believes all Americans want good places to raise their families, with strong schools and clean air and water.
“It's time to put that party nonsense behind us,” Eller said. “We need to work as a people and a nation together.”
In this photo provided by the Andrew Scott Smith for Congress Campaign, Republican candidate Smith poses for a photo on January 2024. Smith, who was one of the top two vote-getters in the March 12 primary, did not received the vote majority needed to avoid a runoff election on Tuesday, April 2. Credit: AP/Wyatt Roberts Jr.
The district stretches along the Mississippi River on the western side of the state, through the flatlands of the Delta and into the capital of Jackson.
Voters in the 2nd District supported Democrat Joe Biden over Republican Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, 63% to 36%.
Updated now Newsday travel writer Scott Vogel took the ferry over to Block Island for a weekend of fun.
Updated now Newsday travel writer Scott Vogel took the ferry over to Block Island for a weekend of fun.
