Tupelo Mayor Announces Bid For U.S. Senate Seat

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Tupelo’s mayor is in the running for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant when Thad Cochran retired.

UPDATE: Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton pulls out of U.S. senate race

Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton is no stranger to campaigning, but he knows a Senate run is a lot different than a mayor’s race.

“I can assure you I would not be running if I didn’t think I could win,” Shelton said.

In 2013 Shelton became the first Democrat elected mayor of Tupelo in nearly 30 years.  Mayor Shelton’s first term was marked by two tragic events, the murder of Tupelo Police Sergeant Gale Stauffer, and the wounding of Officer Joseph Maher by a bank robber.  In 2014 Tupelo was hit by a tornado that caused massive damage, and gave Shelton the opportunity to work with state and federal officials as the All America City cleaned up and rebuilt.

Shelton has also managed to keep Tupelo out of debt and believes his conservative views on spending tax dollars will resonate with voters.

“No new taxes, a proven ability to reduce debt, budget surplus, at the end of the year, five years of record economic growth, investment and quality of life, recruiting new jobs and businesses to the city of Tupelo, I think those are things I can run on,” he said.

Shelton plans to campaign for the Senate seat, while continuing his duties as Tupelo’s mayor.  He says he plans to work hard at Tupelo City Hall. But he also knows he’s going to have to get his name out statewide in what promises to be a closely watched race.

“There’s going to be a lot of issues, and a time and place to discuss all that, what we want to do now is announce our campaign and let the people of our state know we’re running,  I think I have a proven record of being a moderate, being fiscally conservative and we’re going to continue to push forward on that,” Shelton said.

The special election to fill the remaining three years of Senator Cochran’s seat will take place November 6.

Governor Phil Bryant appointed former state agriculture commissioner Cindy Hyde Smith to fill Cochran’s seat.  Hyde Smith will run, along with State Senator Chris McDaniel on the Republican side.   So far, Democrat Mike Espy has said he intends to run for the senate seat.