In a special runoff election on April 22, voters in Mississippi House Districts 23 and 82 will elect candidates to represent them in the state Legislature.
Residents in Calhoun, Lafayette, Pontotoc and Webster Counties will choose a representative for Mississippi House District 23 on March 25 following the death of Rep. Andy Stepp, a Republican from Bruce, Miss., who died on Dec. 5, 2024. He had served in the House since January 2024.
Colby Bollinger and Perry Van Bailey had the highest percentage of votes among the five candidates who challenged each other in the March 25 special election, so the pair will face off in the April 22 runoff election.
Mississippi House District 82 Rep. Charles Young, Jr., a Democrat from Meridian, Miss., died on Dec. 19, 2024. He had served in the House since 2012. Lauderdale County residents in the district will vote for a House District 82 representative on March 25 to fill the vacancy.
Voters picked Gregory Elliott and Joseph Norwood to challenge each other in the April 22 runoff out of the three candidates who ran for the House District 82 special election in March.
Candidates must run as nonpartisan in Mississippi’s special legislative elections.
Mississippi House District 23
Colby Bollinger
Background: Colby Bollinger is a lifelong resident of House District 23 who owns several small businesses in the area and lives in Bruce, Miss., his Facebook page says. He serves on the Calcoun County School District’s board, representing District 3 and “led the charge to eliminate wasteful spending on the school board,” his Facebook page says.
Bollinger is running for House District 23 as an Independent candidate who supports the National Rifle Association. He signed a pledge to support a Constitutional Convention to enact term limits for Congress.
Policy Views:
- Wants to cut taxes
- Anti-abortion
- Supports gun ownership
- Supports farmers
Website: colbybollinger.com/
Social Media: Facebook
Perry Van Bailey
Background: Calhoun City, Miss., native Perry Van Bailey is a Mississippi State University graduate who owns Bailey Farms. He served the Mississippi House District 23 from Feb. 14, 2023, to Jan. 2, 2024. He defeated Andrew Stepp in the special general runoff election on Jan. 31, 2023, by seven votes. Bailey ran for reelection during the 2023 general election but lost to Stepp.
Although candidates for special legislative elections run as nonpartisan, Van Bailey calls himself a conservative Christian.
During his brief stint in the House, Van Bailey sponsored two resolutions the governor signed that encouraged “further economic ties and friendship” between Mississippi and the Republic of China (Taiwan). He was a member of the House’s Agriculture, Constitution, Forestry, Judiciary B and Judiciary En Banc committees.
The candidate said he supports preventing transgender women from playing on women’s sports teams and using women’s bathrooms.
“I’ll also back President Trump’s effort. He wants to keep illegals out of our great state and woke policies out, too,” Van Bailey said in a campaign promotional video on March 19.
Policy Views:
- Supports abolishing the state income tax
- Wants to reduce the state’s grocery tax
- Wants to create a holiday in the spring in which the state does not impose sales taxes on firearms, ammunition, firearm accessories and gun safes
- Anti abortion
- Advocates for accountability and accessibility in government
- Wants to help farmers
- Supports revitalizing infrastructure
- Wants more funding for law enforcement
Website: perryvanbailey.com
Social Media: Facebook
Mississippi House District 82
Gregory Elliott
Background: Meridian, Miss., native Gregory Elliott graduated from Jackson State University.
He aims to boost small businesses’ contracts with the State of Mississippi, grow economic development and focus on reducing the brain drain of educated Mississippians moving to other states.
“As a proud resident of District 82, I understand the unique challenges and opportunities we face. Whether it’s ensuring our children receive a top-notch education, creating good-paying jobs, improving healthcare access, or safeguarding the values we hold dear, I am committed to working for you. My goal is to bring fresh, thoughtful leadership to the State House that reflects the voices of every person in our district,” Elliott wrote in a March 17 Facebook post.
Some family members of the late House District 82 Rep. Charles Young, Jr., endorsed Elliott in a March 19 social-media video.
Policy Views:
- Boost small businesses
- Grow economic development
- Focus on reducing brain drain
Website: No website is publicly available.
Social Media: Facebook
Joseph ‘Joe’ Norwood
Background: Joe Norwood previously served as Lauderdale County’s District 4 supervisor. He is a Miles College graduate and a member of its College Sports Hall of Fame.
While he is running to represent Mississippi House District 82 in the March 25 special general election, he is also running for reelection for Meridian Ward 3 councilman in the June 3 municipal election.
Norwood wants to boost local infrastructure and economic development while improving public safety and empowering education and programs for children.
Policy Views:
- Wants to improve public safety
- Supports infrastructure improvements
- Advocates for boosting programs for youth
- Hopes to strengthen economic development
Website: No website is publicly available.
Social Media: No social media is publicly available
Mississippians will vote for legislative and judicial offices on Tuesday, April 22. Any eligible registered voter who registered in person or had their voter registration application postmarked by March 23 can cast a ballot in the general election.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Contact your local circuit clerk or election commissioners for polling place information. Voters must bring an accepted form of voter ID to the polls. For more information, visit sos.ms.gov/yall-vote.
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Joe Norwood was a Ward 3 councilman for Meridian, Miss.; he was not. We apologize for the error.
