Wednesday, October 26, 2022

Sid Salter: Committee Clout Remains Most Tangible Election Outcome

All of the nation’s top election prognosticators – FiveThirtyEight.com’s Nate Silver, University of Virginia’s Larry Sabato, Charlie Cook, and Real Clear Politics – are offering projections and hedging bets over whether Republicans or Democrats will control the House and Senate after the 2022 midterm elections.

With extreme political polarization, high inflation, supply chain and chip shortages and geopolitical upheaval in Europe driving fear and uncertainty among voters and a high turnout anticipated, the debates are nothing but interesting. In Mississippi, there’s more certitude. But based on the outcome, watch the congressional committee system influence.


Neither of the state’s two U.S. senators is engaged in re-election bids in 2022, but both Sen. Roger Wicker, R- Tupelo, and Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Brookhaven, have a lot on the line in the 2022 midterm elections. 


Should the GOP take the majority in the U.S. Senate, Wicker is in line to become chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Wicker would be the first Mississippian since legendary former U.S. Sen. John C. Stennis, D-DeKalb, held the post,


The value of that chairmanship given Mississippi’s substantial military infrastructure, the state’s large Gulf Coast shipbuilding and central and north Mississippi aerospace/missile technology industries, and the Stennis Space Center in Hancock County is difficult to overestimate. Wicker is currently the ranking member on the Senate Commerce Committee with seats on the Environment and Public Works, and Rules committees, and a ranking member on the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission).


Hyde-Smith, with current seats on the powerful Agriculture, Appropriations, Energy and Natural Resources, and Rules committees, is likewise expected to advance in the committee and subcommittee system with a GOP majority.


The 2022 midterm elections and subsequent control of the U.S. House will also impact Mississippi’s House delegation. Changes in the committee and subcommittee system are also at play in these races.

Incumbent First District U.S. Rep. Trent Kelly, R-Tupelo, faces Democrat Diane Black in the general election. Kelly holds seats on the House Armed Services and Agriculture committees with subsequent key subcommittee assignments including Intelligence and Special Operations, and Seapower and Projection Forces. He holds a seat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.


Currently the state’s only House committee chair, incumbent Second District U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Bolton, faces Republican Brian Flowers on Nov. 8. Thompson chairs the House Homeland Security Committee and chairs the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol.


Thompson, 74, has achieved “congressman for life” status in the state’s Second District and should cruise to re-election to a seat he’s held since 1993.


Incumbent Third District U.S. Rep. Michael Guest, R-Brandon, faces Democrat Shuwaski A. Young in the general election. Guest was forced into a second GOP primary with challenger Michael Cassidy but won that contest by a 2-to-1 margin and is expected to win in November.


Guest holds seats on the House Ethics, Homeland Security, and Transportation and Infrastructure committees with multiple subcommittee assignments.


After incumbent Fourth District U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo of Gulfport was rejected in the GOP first primary by almost 68 percent of the district’s voters, he faced a second primary runoff against Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell. 


Remarkably, the other GOP challengers to Palazzo joined forces the next day to formally endorse Ezell in the runoff. Ezell prevailed to win the GOP nomination and faces Democrat Johnny DuPree and Libertarian Alden Johnson in the general election. Ezell is expected to hold the seat for the GOP.


Palazzo’s ouster will cost Mississippi a seat on the House Appropriations Committee and two relevant subcommittees. Seeing an incumbent congressperson with an Appropriations seat lose in a primary is not something one sees very often – but that may prove the biggest surprise of the 2022 Mississippi midterms.


Sid Salter is a syndicated columnist. Contact him at sidsalter@sidsalter.com

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Thompson, 74, has achieved “congressman for life” status in the state’s Second District and should cruise to re-election to a seat he’s held since 1993."

Why shouldn't he. There is only one qualification that he needs to meet during his election, and it's not his record of doing anything for this state.

Anonymous said...

Because all Sid sees is pork. The country be damned, just bring the pork.

Anonymous said...

Sid is totally out of touch as usual.

There never really was a chip shortage. It was all just another scam and it worked. They were able to get congress to give them billions. The same scumbags paid out a huge settlement 10 years ago for price fixing RAM chips. Nvidia, Intel, AMD, Micron, Samsung Texas Instruments, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (TSMC) got paid and now they are laying off thousands of employees and while also cutting production due to a glut of outdated chips because of the crash in crypto mining. They are suffering extreme demand destruction and they simply want to keep the prices high!

Anonymous said...

Captain obvious is so insufferable. I just imagine he only writes this drivel for his fellow out-of-touch boomers. Does anyone actually find Sidney’s “hot take” to be insightful or compelling in any way?

Anonymous said...

One positive consequence unmentioned by Salter is that Bennie T will no longer use his soon-to-be-lost chair to bash Governor Reeves with an NAACP race rodeo.

Anonymous said...

Ho hum...commenters bashing Sid without any accurate facts to support their point of view.
Typical of party poison Koolaid drinkers.

Anonymous said...

Guest will have a choice between Palazzos Approp. seat and the Homeland Security Chairmanship . McCarthy has called.

Anonymous said...

@8.21 AM

Amen to your comment! Salter's perspective mirrors that of way too many Mississippians: How much Federal money can we funnel into the state to prop up our economy?

How about being creative and productive and generating jobs and wealth rather than taking a fair (or outsized) share of the wealth re-distribution.

Geez. Sickening.

D. D. said...

3:52, bless his heart, is no doubt 32 years old at most. He has no idea that so-called pork has created multiple thousands of productive jobs and multiple millions of payroll dollars in this state over the past seventy years.

He has no clue that what he calls 'funneling money' actually DOES result in job creation, job retention and payroll approaching billions over time. Let me direct his attention to Ingalls, as just one example, and there are many others.

And he has no clue that his suggestion of 'generating jobs and wealth' (literally a hollow phrase) is exactly what happens when such things as military contracts land in multiple areas of this state. Somebody please help him understand that congressional power and committee positioning are what's required to make these things happen. Millsaps has failed him.


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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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