By a very close vote of 62-60, Speaker Billy McCoy (D) will retain the gavel for the next four years. He fended off a very aggressive challenge from fellow Rep. Jeff Smith (D). Smith is a close ally of Gov. Haley Barbour (R), and Smith’s election to Speaker was seen by many as having a DINO weilding the gavel. With Speaker McCoy holding onto power in the House, Governor Barbour will have someone keep him in check over his second term.
Great news for Mississippi!
Always great to see good news coming from Mississippi.
This could be the high-water mark for the Repubs in MS. Younger voters went for Kerry in ’04, and more new voters join the lists and more old bigots die off every year. As that shift makes itself increasingly felt in other contests, we could see the Democrats make a comeback.