2 more legislators switch to GOP – 28 Dems so far in 2 years

Two more elected Democratic legislators have switched to the Mississippi Republican Party: Russ Nowell (District 43: Kemper, Noxubee, Winston) and Margaret Rogers (District 14: Pontotoc, Union) switched at a press conference with Governor Haley Barbour at the Mississippi Republican Party today.

Y’all Politics calls the Democratic Party “The incredible shrinking caucus.”

But this loss by the Mississippi Democratic Party goes beyond the legislature.  Add to these two switches today the Lee County District Two Justice Court Judge John Sheffield and Winston County Sheriff Randy Thomas (according to the list at Majority in Mississippi) and we’re up to 28 Democratic elected officials in Mississippi who have switched to the Republican Party since the innauguration of President Barack Obama.

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#24: Dems keep flipping to GOP

Add two more to the count. From Lee County, Democrats Pat Carr (District 1 justice court judge) and Ted Wood (District 2 constable) have switched to the Republican Party. That makes 24 Democratic elected officials who have switched to the Republican Party in Mississippi since the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

5 More Democratic incumbents qualify as Republicans

In Hancock County, four incumbent Democratic elected officials have qualified to run for reelection as Republicans.

In an unprecedented move Tuesday, four incumbent elected officials in Hancock County switched political parties, and will now run as Republicans in the August primaries.

Incumbents Jimmy Ladner (tax assessor/collector), Karen Ruhr (circuit clerk), Tim Kellar (chancery clerk), and Superintendent of Education Alan Dedeaux all qualified as Republicans on Tuesday.

For decades, the Democratic party has dominated the political landscape in Hancock County.

Hancock County Republican Chairman Danny Johnson said Tuesday’s qualifications are a sign of the times.

“Times are changing in our country and Hancock County is no different,” Johnson said. “People want their government back. This is a sign that the people in Hancock County feel the same way.”

Dedeaux said he feels that it is the mood of the community.

“The national Democratic party is not in-line with my beliefs,” he said. “I’m a conservative person by nature, and I feel like the Republican party is more appealing at this time.”

Ladner, Kellar, and Ruhr said they agreed with Dedeaux’s assessment.

 And Majority in Mississippi reports that incumbent Democrat Lee County Sheriff Jim Johnson has qualified for re-election as a Republican.

If you’re keeping count, that makes 22 elected Democratic officials to become Republicans since this time two years ago.