Former Congressman and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy issued the following statement.
After running the closest election last year in Mississippi for United States Senate since 1982, Mike Espy is energized and ready to continue the fight in 2020. Espy launched his campaign for U.S. Senate Tuesday with the release of an announcement video, citing a momentum for change in the state.
“There are too many people in our state who can’t find a decent job. Rural hospitals across our state are closing. And the price for education is too high. Meanwhile, Washington is a mess, and Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith has done little to truly help the Magnolia State,” Espy said. “It feels like a new crisis dominates the headlines every day but does nothing to create jobs or improve our communities. Too often, our current Senator puts party over country instead of doing what’s best for our state and even our national security.”
Espy’s campaign will have a committed focus on access to health care, better job opportunities, support for Mississippi’s farmers, and improvements to public education. Importantly, it will work to bring people together to find bipartisan solutions to issues facing every Mississippian.
“This campaign isn’t about one person or one party,” Espy said. “It’s about all of us rising up to fight for what’s best for our great state and our country. Mississippians haven’t forgotten the unfortunate comments made by our current Senator last year about public hangings and voter suppression, or the picture of her proudly wearing Confederate garb. Mississippi wants and deserves a leader with dignity and respect for all—someone who will move our state forward instead of continuing to hold us back. That is why I’m running.”
In his announcement video, Espy shares how his family history shapes his desire and lifelong devotion to help Mississippians and makes him uniquely qualified to serve as Senator.
“Mississippi is changing,” Espy says to open the video. “My great-grandparents were slaves brought to Mississippi from Virginia and Georgia. But their son—my grandfather… founded the first hospital for African-Americans in Mississippi… My grandfather broke barriers and through his legacy and fortitude, decades later, I would break a few more—becoming the first African-American to represent Mississippi in the United States House of Representatives, and the first and only African-American United States Secretary of Agriculture.”
The video highlights the positive changes Mississippi has seen but raises the important point that progress in the state is still too slow, and that cannot be changed without also changing current leadership.
“Cindy Hyde-Smith is hurting Mississippi—our progress and our reputation—and we simply must replace her. That’s why I’m running for Senate,” Espy says in the video. “I want us to meet our potential to be a state we can all be proud of.”
53 comments:
She beat his ass last time and will do it again. His "bleeding" talk did not help Jim Hood and it certainly will not help him, especially with all of the baggage that he has and his ties with the Clintons.
Any updates on the noose found at the Capitol? Those LuMumba cameras would have been helpful.
If Hood couldn't beat Tater, there's no way he can unseat the female Colonel Reb. But it will give him enough steam to replace Bennie...whenever. Who cares about Mississippi's image.
Mike says "My grandfather broke barriers and through his legacy and fortitude, decades later, I would break a few more—becoming the first African-American to represent Mississippi in the United States House of Representatives, and the first and only African-American United States Secretary of Agriculture"
However, he would not be the first African-American U.S. Senator to rep MS. That happened during Reconstruction, a U.S.-appointed senator holds that achievement.
So Espy is going to run on better job opportunities ... how is he going to improve on Trump's economy??
I guess some people enjoy bashing their head against a brick wall. Good luck with that, Mike.
He isn't wrong about her..she's done absolutely nothing for the state...but 9:45 is right on the mark about the Clintons. that would help him in a blue state, but we aren't there...
I certainly hope Justice Waller primaries Senator Hyde-Smith. I told the Honorable Justice, way before he got into the Governor's race, that US Senate was a great gig.
What a fine way to end a political career with a term or so in the United States Senate. A Waller-Espy primary election would be no contest.
Maybe someone will start a "draft Waller" movement.
One can only hope.
He was working the crowd over at Jim Hood's election night party in the videos I saw from the news coverage. I expect Espy's results in this race to be about the same as Hood's gubernatorial bid. Espy has a pretty shady past.
Mike Espy should just run for POTUS. He is too smart for Mississippi. This state prefers hayseed bank tellers like Tater Tot Reeves and moonface witches like Cindy Hyde-Smith
R-60
D-40
Good night!
Next.
Time for me to come home to ROOST!
That would be the ultimate slap in the face to the Bryant-Tate legacy...a Waller Senatorship.
You know somewhere in the bowels of the governor's mansion they have mapped out who gets what seat for the next 20 years.
If Waller doesn't run, I hope McDaniel runs. I'll finally vote for him this time.
I'm with 10:17. I'd be proud for Waller to represent us in the Senate. C. H. Smith is a dud, in over her head, bless her heart.
CHS 55, ME 45. Espy is less than honest, a poor campaigner, and a Blue in a deep Red state. He will,however, get a lot of $$$ from the DNC and will be able to live well for the rest of his life.
When Waller refused to endorse Tate, that was the signal that he was done with GOP primaries. She will have a primary, but not Waller.
Let’s get some new blood out there to represent Mississippi! We need a new candidate who isn’t self absorbed; someone who truly cares about the best interests for Mississippi and its people!
In my opinion, Cindy Hyde-Smith has been promoted beyond her abilities.
Guess being a Lawyer, or at least acting like one, is harder work than being a Politician. Neither one could get a job at a Marathon Gas Station.
If you like the Clintons, you will love Espy.
That picture of ol' Cindy says it all. Well, not quite all. Wait till the rest of the country gets to know our gubna. Go Mississippi.
Go Mike. You have to convince 30,000 white people to vote for you plus what you did last time.
With trump impeached and his treasonous behavior on full display.....this could be your time.
Espy 401k
Post Nov 5 most of the Mississippi Democrat navel-gazers were attributing Hood's loss to the fact that he didn't unabashedly embrace the agenda of his national party. Now we see Espy going down basically the same path as Hood. Only difference being the color of their skin.
No.....just no. Go away.
Yeah. Espy is great all right.... after he became Sec. of AG for 15 seconds, ALL of his Mississippi field staff, all of a sudden, land cushy USDA Rural Development jobs in the Federal Building in Jackson MS. Just like that! Over night. Fact. I also hear he likes California almonds...
Every candidate, regardless of party, says the same thing while running for office. They talk as though no one has ever had the same thoughts and plans to save the nation as they have. Then 4 years later, if they get elected, not a damn thing has changed.
Corrupt as the Clinton's. No thx
I'm a long time Republican and the party needs someone besides Cindy, I had to hold my nose when I voted for he
😂🤣😂🤣
Somebody posted that Espy is smart. Either they’ve never tried to have a simple conversation with him or the poster’s standards are very low. His ego is rather large and we all know why. Other than winning elections, where is his record? What has he accomplished? I do believe his voice would be stronger than Bennie. That’s a joke too.
I rarely comment on this blog but I read it for humor purposes multiple times a day; however, i cannot resist posting my thoughts about this article and the above reactions.
Do any of you even KNOW Cindy Hyde-Smith and/or Mike Espy? I mean really know them, as individuals? Well I do. And I can tell you this for a FACT - one is beyond corrupt and the other is not, one will give you the shirt from their back and the other would watch you suffer, one truly loves Mississippi and another just wants another title to add to their list, one is a genuine individual and the other is someone who lies so much it's habit. Obviously this is America where we have the freedom to vote however we wish but I encourage you to get to know your candidates. DO NOT base your vote on hear say or some insane commercial (probably paid for by the DNC and the Clinton's). Again, I scream CORRUPT!!! But rather, meet your candidates and their families...see if you can trust them and if they're accessible and then make your decision.
As for me, I'll be voting for Cindy Hyde-Smith. She is pure and genuine. A shining jewel among the rough edges of life. No matter where she may be -in Washington, Jackson or at home in Lincoln County - she is truly just herself and enjoys serving the people. I have watched her do things that no one would expect - such as take care of a morbidly obese and handicapped individual at a restaurant. No one knew who she was and she had no agenda but she did it out of the kindness of her heart. Not only did she quietly buy a meal, she wheeled the lady to a table, moved the tables so she'd be comfortable and then gave the waitress extra money for her dinner that evening. But those are the kind of things no one knows. I've watched her sit in the back of the room and avoid acknowledgement because she did not want an event focused on her but rather on the true cause. I could go on and on. But knowing her genuineness and pure heart makes me trust her as our Senator. I am not saying people don't make mistakes - we are all human - but it is wise to carefully consider a person's character before electing them to office.
Espy has the character of the snake. He is beyond corrupt. Thankfully this is Mississippi and my post has been unnecessary because we are going to elect a Republican anyway - and anyone who primaries CHS is just INSANE. But Espy must just like attention - i don't understand his motives for dragging a precious family through the mud and lying about good people. It infuriates me beyond words.
Anyway, my rant is over. If I ever run for office I hope no one like Mike decides to run against me - I would let all the truth be known about their crooked ways. (Similar to what should have been done in a gubernatorial election but that's done with now.) Because facts are just facts and that isn't negativity. Now let the trolls comment negatively about my post - I do not care.
CORRECTION:
November 12, 2019 at 10:17 AM here. I intended to say that a Waller - Espy general election would be no contest.
The poster regrets the error.
It is hard to imagine a candidate from either party I would trust less than Mike Espy. That being said, Mississippi deserves better than Wicker or CHS. One is an empty suit and the other an empty skirt. Good people? I will disparage neither for their personal character, but that's it. To twist a well known phrase. Seldom in the history of man has so little been accomplished by so few for so many. As to cbaracer, didn't Wcker promise to not stay longer than two terms. I suppose I will have to recant my own statement as to character.
Wicker may be the emptiest suit I have ever known. Thank goodness he is in politics, he couldn't get a job doing anything else. CHS was picked because she will take orders, not rock the boat, and for the "present" time, you could get a three legged camel elected to just about any office in Mississippi as long as the camel was a Republican. The real problem is that the Republicans are beginning to over estimate their strength. The moderate Mississippi voter is getting fed up and if the Dems could find a half way honest candidate for office, the tide would turn.
I will happily vote for a competent, honest Democratic candidate as soon as the party can find one. Until then, empty suits and skirts will rule the day.
Career politicians are bad enough. Career candidates are pathetic.
So Espy is "For the People" and not "For Himself" as he was in his last public office? :)
Retired from the Mississippi National Guard; Major General Waller, will do a lot more good for Mississippi than Mr Espy.
Mike needs to sit down somewhere, as my grandmother used to say!
The idea that Espy was able to buy his way out of 30 charges of corruption ..........
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/counsels/stories/espy120398.htm
Espy beats his drum and lets us know he's a slave descendent.Move on there's nothing to see here.
CHS is great for MS.
She is doing great things in DC.
Espy has been to DC.
And been sent home.
Espy and RW will be too busy looting Madison County in 2020 to worry about going back to DC, for at least the next four years.
If Espy does make it back to DC, look out Tyson Chicken.
The $6 million in fines that Tyson paid for all of the illegal gifts Espy took will be like chicken feed.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/counsels/stories/espy123097.htm
The Mississippi Democratic Party:
"Gluttons for punishment"
Espy is smart. He was a friend of Bill feeding at the trough. And unlike Ron Brown, he didn’t Arkancide himself. That speaks volumes.
Didn't the Supreme Court, and Judge Scalia, vote 9-0 to find Espy not guilty?
Othor Cain will be is P.R. director, I'm a Democrat and he wouldn't get my vote.
Jesus Christ!, Is there not a single democrat left with any common sense anymore? Go ahead Mike kick that dead horse...waste of time and money.
4:26 pm Yes I do. I've socialized with both.
I do like Cindy's make over. Her fashion consultant is excellent. Of course, that sorta kills one of your arguments.
Mike is extremely smart, well educated, has excellent social skills and manners. Cindy is pleasant and slightly above average intelligence. She is generally ignored in D.C. and nothing will fix that. They know they don't have to acquiesce to her on anything. There's nothing she can do for them, no way she can help them. She is told what to do and will cheerfully comply. She's just not clever enough.
And, your lack of knowledge of the facts in the bogus charges against Espy is glaring. Read the trial transcript. He was not convicted of anything for good reason.
Cindy Smith has a chance to be a legendary Senator. She has to get rid of that three name stuff ala Hillary Rodham Clinton. No more three name Cindy.
Follow the "Money"! I bet it pays pretty good
to run for that office. Money will come to Mike from
all kinds of places. Out of State, Trial lawyers mainly.
Yep, not a bad gig if you can get it.
Did I mention win, loose or draw, it pays
pretty good. Don't waste your time or money
on Mike. Let's keep CHSmith working for Mississippi.
She will continue to improve with time.
Funny that Espy was not convicted of a specific crime yet Tyson was convicted of the same crime in reverse. Howz that work?
The appointment of C H-B-S was a mistake only a student of colossus could make. The woman has no talent, shows no promise (then nor now), earned nothing, did nothing as our Ag Secretary. Never farmed a day in her life yet rode in a rodeo wagon with her benefactor.
We will run a party candidate to sweep her away like a dust-bunny. Espy will not even be a factor in the equation other than to stir up the liberal proletariat (and Salter).
Excellent assessment of FACTS, 8:55.
I like Mike!
Score one for CHS, blocked a BS gun bill.
"If I wanted to give my best friend's son or grandson my hunting rifle, would we first have to appear before a licensed gun dealer and go through a lengthy and potentially expensive background check? This is my understanding," Hyde-Smith said. "We have many questions like this. My constituents would like to have an opportunity to weigh in our measures like these which is why we can't fast-track legislation that affects America's Second Amendment rights."
CHS is an embarrassment and needs to go, but Espy does not excite me.
Exactly how has any Republican benefited this state? I'm not saying that a Democrat could either, but Republicans have been running things for years, and this state is still piss-poor. Is Tater going to be the great White savior? Trump comes here and Republicans kiss his butt, but he has never done ANYTHING to help us improve this state. And Trump would NEVER invite any of us to his house for dinner because he thinks we are all backward rednecks, which we are.
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