Evan Turnage, an attorney with ties to top congressional Democrats who is aiming to oust Rep. Bennie Thompson in Mississippi’s 2nd District, rolled out a new ad on Tuesday. The ad, which a spokesperson for Turnage’s campaign told Mississippi Today was part of a “six-figure” purchase acro ss broadcast and digital platforms, hits the airwaves with less than a month to go before the state’s March 10 primaries for congressional offices. Turnage, 33, said the 2nd Congressional District — which stretches from the Delta through much of Jackson and along the Mississippi River — has remained “the poorest district in the poorest state in the country” for the entirety of Thompson’s tenure. “That was true when I was one, when our congressman was first elected, it’s true today,” Turnage said. “If our congressman’s 33 years in office had helped build up this district, built wealth and health in this district, there’d be no need for change. But if life has gotten harder and less fair for you and your neighbors like it has for so many Mississippians, then I ask for your support to bring new ideas and new leadership back to the halls of power.” A spokesperson for Thompson did not respond to a request for comment about the ad or a question about his closing message to voters. In recent media appearances, Thompson has lambasted the Trump administration for its immigration crackdown and his campaign has touted endorsements from leading politicians in his district, such as Jackson Mayor John Horhn. Turnage is a former aide to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Senate Conference Vice Chair Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. His close ties to two of the U.S. Senate’s leading Democrats made his decision to challenge Thompson notable, as the longtime incumbent Thompson has typically sailed to re-election since his entering office in 1993 without facing a pedigreed Democratic challenger in a primary. Turnage lived briefly in Cleveland as a child before returning to Jackson, attending Murrah High School in the Jackson Public Schools system. His parents, Ellis and Ellie Turnage, are both attorneys. He attened Yale law school and went on to work for Warren, helping her draft legislation aimed at curbing corporate power. He also worked for Schumer as a top lawyer handling Democratic leadership priorities. He currently leads the Southern Justice Project at the Open Markets Institute Thompson has represented the 2nd Congressional District covering Jackson and the Delta since 1993. Thompson, a civil rights leader and former chair of the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6th Capitol attack, is a towering figure in state and national politics. He previously told Mississippi Today he believes his record would “speak for itself.” Turnage officially entered the race on Dec. 17. He unveiled a policy platform that includes a “Come Home” agenda to reverse brain drain through student debt relief, housing support and remote federal work. He has also touted support for a Working Families Tax Credit, a policy he said would counter the realities underlying the state’s welfare scandal. He supports more funding for maternal health care, where outcomes in the Delta lag behind most of the country and programs to increase broadband access. Turnage has also attempted to draw a contrast between himself and Thompson on the issue of campaign finance, saying Thompson has received money from private prison companies. The latest round of campaign finance reports from the Federal Election Commission, which run up to Dec. 31, 2025, shows Thompson with $1.6 million in cash on hand. Thompson received a $5,000 donation in 2025 from GEO Group, a company that invests in private prisons, the FEC reports show. Turnage’s fundraising records show he raised $65,464 between when he launched his campaign on Dec. 17 and Dec. 31, 2025, the latest date for which FEC reports are available. On the Republican side, Adams County Supervisor Kevin Wilson is challenging Ron Eller, who is running again for the GOP nomination after losing to Thompson by nearly 25 points in 2024. Wilson raised about $55,000, besting Eller’s roughly $11,000 haul in the latest FEC numbers. An independent, Bennie Foster, is also running for the seat. ...read more read less