Evan Turnage Announces Run for Congress, Targeting Longtime Incumbent Bennie Thompson

Evan Turnage, a 33-year-old antitrust attorney from Jackson, Mississippi, has announced his candidacy to challenge longtime Democratic Representative Bennie Thompson in the March 2026 primary election for Mississippi's 2nd Congressional District. Turnage brings considerable federal policy experience, having previously worked as chief counsel to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and senior counsel to Senator Elizabeth Warren, where he contributed to significant legislative initiatives. His campaign focuses on addressing the district's persistent economic struggles, as it remains among the nation's poorest regions, and he emphasizes the need for new leadership to create opportunities that would allow residents to build stable lives without leaving the state.