JACKSON – Democrats across Mississippi are celebrating big municipal races that prove the Democratic Party has strong momentum heading into next year’s midterm Congressional elections.

“Tonight shows us that the Democratic message is resonating with the voters of Mississippi,” Chairman Jamie Franks said. “We’ve picked up mayoral seats in key cities like Vicksburg while turning away fierce Republican challengers in cities like Ocean Springs.”

Franks pointed to a variety of victories in illustrating how the Democratic message is being heard by every type of Mississippian.

“We’ve won large metropolitan races and small-town races,” Franks said. “City voters, rural voters and everyone in between realize that the Republican Party in Mississippi is leading us down the wrong path, and these voters want new leadership.”

Franks said it was important to note that voters in Booneville, Starkville and other similar smaller towns with more rural populations also elected Democratic mayors.

“The idea that the Democratic Party will not play in rural Mississippi is misguided, and I think the Republican Party is starting to get that message,” Franks said. “People want leaders who look out for jobs, for health care, for education; not leaders who look out for big business and special interest groups.”

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Tonight was a big night for us. Democrats in cities across Mississippi won
major victories.

We won in large cities like Jackson with Harvey Johnson and Vicksburg with
Paul Winfield. We won in small towns like Booneville with Joe Eaton.

We elected first-time mayors in places like Starkville with Parker Wiseman.
And we beat back tough GOP challenges to return mayors for another term in
places like Oceans Springs with Connie Moran.

In short: Democrats had a good day.

Please join me in celebrating these and other Democratic victories. I know
there were a lot of hard-working candidates. We are proud of them all. They
are a shining example of how strong the Democratic Party in Mississippi
truly is.

Sincerely,

Chairman Jamie Franks

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There’s a great story in Booneville that epitomizes how successful Democrats can be in rural Mississippi.

Democratic nominee Joe Eaton defeated incumbent independent Mayor Roger Smith and a Republican challenger to win the mayoral race.

For those people who want to write off the Democratic Party in Mississippi, I’d take a step back. Races like the one in Booneville — not to mention victories like Congressman Travis Childers’ last year — prove that the Democratic Party is alive and well in Mississippi.

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Ocean Springs Mayor Connie Moran turned back a tough Republican challenger on the coast for a second term.

Mayor Moran has a special story. She was barely in office when Hurricane Katrina ripped through her city. Her leadership and professional background were key in leading the city out of the disaster.

We look for big things out of Mayor Moran in the future. Congrats, mayor.

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As expected, Harvey Johnson will return as mayor of Jackson.

While Mayor Johnson was expected to win the general election, the margins by which he has done so is impressive.

Out of a field of six candidates, Mayor Johnson will end the night with more than 20,000 votes. His closest competitor will have about 10 percent of that.

We look forward to once again working with Mayor Johnson as he sets about building a stronger Capital City. Congrats, Mr. Mayor.

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Parker Wiseman, president of the Young Democrats of Mississippi, is the newly elected mayor of Starkville.

That was a textbook race run there, and we’re proud to have someone like Parker leading a Mississippi city. He’s going to be a future star in Mississippi Democratic politics.

Congratulations, Mayor-elect Wiseman.

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Paul Winfield has won the mayoral election in Vicksburg.

This is one of the races the party worked behind the scenes on, and we’re proud to have a Democrat elected mayor there.

Congratulations, Mayor-elect Winfield.

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As Congress returns and the Senate prepares to take up confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor, it seems that many Senate Republicans have quietly admitted to the fact that President Obama has made a superb choice for the bench.

From a New York Times blog post:

Notwithstanding fierce criticism from the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich, there is scant evidence of solid opposition from Republican senators. Indeed, strategists on both sides say that one-third or more of the 40 Senate Republicans may vote to confirm her.

Our eyes will be on Sens. Roger Wicker and Thad Cochran, especially considering that Sen. Thad Cochran voted for her when she was appointed to the Appeals Court.

On her slow confirmation process obstructed by partisan Republicans in 1997:

She was finally confirmed by the Senate on a 68-28 vote, with some senior Republicans like Thad Cochran of Mississippi, Orrin Hatch of Utah, Judd Gregg of New Hampshire and Richard Lugar of Indiana supporting her. But among those voting against her was Sessions, a key player in shaping how the GOP will handle Obama’s nominee.

Good luck, her honor.

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Have you heard about how the Republican Party is trying to rebrand themselves? How they are trying to put a new face on their party?

In that vein, here’s an interesting piece from HuffingtonPost.com about the Sunday news shows:

A source sends over a list of guests who are set to appear on this week’s Sunday Shows. And for those GOPers hoping to see newer faces representing the party it is not a pretty sight.

2008 presidential nominee, Senator John McCain will be on ABC’s “This Week.” Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will be on “Fox News Sunday.” And former Vice President Dick Cheney will be on “Face the Nation” on CBS. (“Face the Nation” confirmed that Cheney would be getting the full half hour.)

That’s about as revolutionary as say an RNC chairman from the 1980s heading up a new group aimed at redefining the Republican Party. Oh, wait, I forgot…

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JACKSON (May 7, 2009) — Chairman Jamie Franks today released the following statement on the death of Jackson Mayor Frank Melton:

“We are saddened to learn of the death of Mayor Melton,” Franks said. “He served our capitol city as a businessman, community activist and civic leader. Our prayers are with his family and friends during this very trying period.”

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