Trial on Miss. Election Challenge Set for Sept. 15

BY EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS
Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. – A trial is set to begin Sept. 15 for a lawsuit that seeks to undo a Republican runoff victory by Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran.

Retired Chancellor Hollis McGehee, who’s presiding over the case, filed a scheduling order Thursday in Jones County Circuit Court in Laurel. He specifies that the trial must be finished by Oct. 3. It will take place at the Jones County Courthouse.

State Sen. Chris McDaniel filed the lawsuit last week, asking a judge to either declare him the winner of the June 24 runoff or order a new election. McDaniel claims there were thousands of voting irregularities, but Cochran’s attorneys say the six-term incumbent won fairly.

Certified results show Cochran defeated the tea party-backed McDaniel by 7,667 votes.

The general election is Nov. 4.