Delbert Hosemann Receives Right to Life Endorsement in Re-Election Campaign for LTG

Jackson, Miss. (DeSoto County News) – Mississippi Right to Life has endorsed Delbert Hosemann in his re-election campaign for Lt. Governor.

“Our endorsement is recognition of your years of dedicated service in defense of human life for innocent unborn babies, the elderly, and the disabled,” said Barbara Whitehead, President of Mississippi Right to Life, wrote in the endorsement letter to Hosemann. “We appreciate your 100 percent pro-life commitment and 100 percent pro-life voting record through the years.”

Hosemann responded by saying the state has a significant record of supporting pro-life legislation and supporting children and families.

“Mississippi led in overturning Roe and our leadership on this issue will not end at birth,” said Hosemann. “Thank you to Mississippi Right to Life and Mrs. Whitehead for their steadfast support for more than 25 years.”

As Lt. Governor, Hosemann appointed a nine-member study group to hold hearings, hear testimony, and draft legislation related to the issues facing women, children, and families. In December, the group unveiled a litany of post-Dobbs, pro-life legislation, much of which has since been signed into law.

View Original Story (June 25, 2023)

Hosemann Visits Site of Tornado Damage in Jasper County

Jasper County, Miss. (WTOK) – The devastation in Jasper County is just jaw-dropping. Homes that were fine less than 24 hours ago are nothing but debris scattered across the ground. Trees have been shredded. The path of destruction where the tornado came through is very clear to see.

The confirmed tornado came through just before midnight. Eighteen people were injured, some hospitalized. At least one person died. She was identified as by her family as George-Jean Hayes.

State Sen. Juan Barnett said he and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann plan to tour the area to survey the damage, along with the Jasper County EMA Director Hudson Jenkins. Jenkins estimated 20 to 30 homes were either badly damaged or destroyed.

View Original Story (June 19, 2023)

BIPEC Endorses Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann

Jackson, Miss. (DeSoto County News) – Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann has received another endorsement in his re-election campaign, as the Business and Industry Political Education Committee (BIPEC), which represents business and industry leaders in Mississippi, has endorsed Hosemann.

“Delbert has personal experience running a business and he has always brought this knowledge to the legislative arena, first as Secretary of State and also in his first term as Lt. Governor,” said BIPEC President and Chief Executive Officer Derek Easley. “He has used this knowledge to make it easier to start and maintain a business in Mississippi. We applaud his administration’s efforts and look forward to a second term.”

Hosemann notes that the Mississippi Senate cut the income tax by $525 million without raising any taxes. This will result in a flat income tax rate of four percent in 2026.

Hosemann also oversaw passage of legislation otherwise making the tax code more favorable for businesses, such as allowing a full and immediate deduction on equipment rather than depreciation.

“We have worked hard to champion the interests of our businesses, increase opportunities for workforce training, and otherwise make Mississippi an attractive place to open or expand,” Hosemann said. “We are thankful for BIPEC’s endorsement.”

Hosemann is being challenged on the Republican side by State Sen. Chris McDaniel, Shane Quick, and Tiffany Longino on the Republican side and D. Ryan Grover on the Democratic side.

View Original Story (June 15, 2023)

Hosemann Flush With Support as Campaign Heats Up

Laurel, Miss. (Laurel Leader Call) – Candidates for state offices in this year’s Mississippi elections were required to file updated campaign finance reports for activity in May by June 9.

The following is a rundown of the latest campaign finance filings from each statewide and state commission candidate as filed by their campaigns with the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office. Some reports either have not been filed at the time of this article or may not yet be loaded on the Secretary of State’s website.

Incumbent Republican Lt. Gov. Delbert Hoseman outraised all state candidates during May, bringing in just under $1 million for the period. His main Republican primary challenger, state Sen. Chris McDaniel, reported raising over $100,000.

However, as pointed out by Hosemann campaign operatives, nearly $10,000 of McDaniel’s May total were previously included in his last filing from the January through April period, meaning the state senator’s campaign team double-reported those funds.

McDaniel’s team hit back at Hosemann, pointing out that the incumbent lieutenant governor accepted donations from “liberal felon” Dickie Scruggs and his son, both of whom went to prison for judicial bribery. Hosemann’s report shows $1,000 from the father and son. Scruggs has also been a contributor to Democratic gubernatorial candidates Brandon Presley and Republican state Sen. Nicole Akins Boyd this cycle.

The leading Hosemann donors this period were the Mississippi Bankers Association PAC ($50,000) and Homebuilders Association of Mississippi PAC ($30,000). Eight others donated $25,000 to Hosemann. They were the Mississippi Health Care PAC, MADA Auto PAC, Ergon State PAC, Mississippi Medical PAC, ECM CO-PAC, Optometry for Progress PAC, R. H. Dunlap and Mississippi Roadbuilders Association PAC.

As for McDaniel, R.H. Dunlap ($15,000) and Nicole Johns ($10,000) were the leading contributors to the state senator’s lieutenant governor campaign. Five others donated $5,000 to McDaniel. Those were Kristian Agoglia, Faye Barlow, Harold White, Daniel Conwill and Denny King. The King donation is reportedly among the contributions that were double-reported.

The other Republican candidate in the race, Tiffany Longino, does not have a report listed at this time. Instead, she filed a 48-hour report showing she took in $790.

The Democratic candidate reported raising zero dollars in May and has zero cash on hand.

Republican

Delbert Hosemann (incumbent)

Raised this period: $958,000
Cash on hand: $3.7 million

Chris McDaniel

Raised this period: $107,000
Cash on hand: $386,000

Tiffany Longino – *Filed a 48-hour report

Raised this period: $790 (*48-hour report)
Cash on hand: $-

Democrat

D. Ryan Grover

Raised this period: $0
Cash on hand: $0

View Original Story (June 14, 2023)

Poll: Hosemann Leads in Lt. Governor Primary Race

Jackson, Miss. (Mississippi Today) – A new Mississippi Today/Siena College poll shows incumbent Republican Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann with a substantial lead over challenger Chris McDaniel ahead of the Aug. 8 primary, but Hosemann doesn’t crack 50% and many remain undecided.

The poll of respondents who are likely to vote in the 2023 GOP primary showed Hosemann with 47% support and McDaniel with 32%. But 21% said they don’t know who they’ll vote for or declined to answer.

The poll also surveyed favorable/unfavorable numbers for both candidates. Hosemann was at 58% favorable to 22% unfavorable, and McDaniel was at 46% favorable to 28% unfavorable.

With incumbent Gov. Tate Reeves’ recent semi-endorsement of McDaniel, the poll showed 41% of likely primary voters said they would rather vote for a candidate with his endorsement down ticket, 24% said they would not and 35% said they don’t know.

Both candidates appear to have loyal bases among Republican primary voters. Of those polled who voted for Hosemann in 2019, 61% plan to vote for him again. Of those who voted for McDaniel in his unsuccessful runs for U.S. Senate in 2014 or 2018, 63% plan to vote for him again.

The poll showed some wide differences in regional voter sentiment. In the northeast congressional district, Hosemann and McDaniel were a dead heat, at 36% each. In the Delta and west Mississippi, Hosemann led 60%-20% and led 50%-26% in east-central. In the southeast district which includes McDaniel’s hometown Ellisville, Hosemann polled 45% to McDaniel’s 42%.

Of those surveyed, 31% said they would vote for a candidate considered part of the far-right wing of the GOP, while 45% said they would support a moderate Republican and 24% said they don’t know.

The Mississippi Today/Siena College Research Institute poll of 646 registered voters was conducted June 4-7, 2023, and has an overall margin of error of +/- 4.8 percentage points. Siena has an ‘A’ rating in FiveThirtyEight’s analysis of pollsters.

View Original Story (June 12, 2023)

Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann Reflects on Successful Year

Gulfport, Miss. (WXXV) – Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann stopped by WXXV earlier today and discussed his successes throughout his term and what’s to come.

A lot has happened in Mississippi in the last four years, teachers have received a pay raise, roads are being repaved, and rural hospitals are being funded. Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann tells us how they did it. “We have paid off $550 million dollars in debt the last two years. We’re not borrowing money. And, so, what that has enabled us to do is vote the interest we would have paid in New York – to put it into education in Mississippi.”

Paying off this debt has helped Mississippi fund infrastructure. “We are actually funding infrastructure in 2025 that will be built in 2027 and 2028, so we’re out 4 and 5 years now.”

And is staffing hospitals, too. “People who sign up to stay five years in the state of Mississippi, we pay their tuition for $6,000 a year for nurses for three years. We have a shortage of about 3,000 nurses.”

Elections are coming up on August 8th and if re-elected, Hosemann wants to continue paying down Mississippi’s debt, but also cut more taxes. “We want to look at the income tax and the grocery tax. We’ve got some data now about how the last one is working, and as we go into this next session, we’ll be able to look at both of those I think.”

Even with Chris McDaniel trying to unseat him in the primary, Hosemann feels confident heading into election season. “We get rave reports. People are happy about where the state is. They’re happy about paying off debt. They’re happy about the state being run like a business. Nobody else has a record, of any of our competitors, so we’re running on our record. And I think as I go around South Mississippi, we’re getting real favorable reports.”

View Original Story (June 7, 2023)

 

Hospitals Will Receive Grant Funds, Lt. Gov. Hosemann Says

Cleveland, Miss. (Greenwood Commonwealth) – Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann says any hospitals in Mississippi that aren’t able to draw all of the state emergency funding intended for them this year will get it in 2024.

“In January whoever didn’t get the money is going to be funded. At least from the Senate side, we’re going to fund the remaining amount of money,” the Republican said Friday in Cleveland, where he was attending the annual meeting of the regional economic development organization Delta Council.

The Legislature allocated $103 million this year as part of Hosemann’s plan to save financially endangered hospitals, such as Greenwood Leflore Hospital. Hospitals were allocated varying amounts through a formula that included bed counts, hospital designation, emergency rooms and other factors.

The Greenwood hospital, which has been weeks away from running out of cash at points this year, is expecting $924,000 from the emergency state funding when it becomes available after July 1.

The funding, as reported by Mississippi Today, has run into a snag because it is coming from American Rescue Plan Act money allocated to the state by the federal government rather than from the state’s general fund.

ARPA money, doled out to help local and state governments and other public entities cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, can only be used to cover pandemic-related expenses, under federal regulations.

Many hospitals have already claimed those reimbursement dollars and can’t ask for them again under the newly created hospital grant program.

The situation has produced frustration among some hospital administrators, who have until June 30 to apply for the state grant money.

“I don’t know who came up with the bright-eyed idea to use ARPA money,” Paul Black, CEO of Winston Medical Center in Louisville, told Mississippi Today. “If they did, they definitely did not understand what this meant to the program.”

The rural hospital crisis in Mississippi was a major point of emphasis at Friday’s meeting of Delta Council. One-third of the state’s rural hospitals are considered at risk of closing because of their ongoing operating losses and declining cash reserves. The crisis is particularly acute in the Delta, health officials and experts say.

When asked Friday whether any hospitals might not be able to make it until January due to the delay in getting the state grant money, Hosemann said he had not heard of any.

“They haven’t called me about that,” said Hosemann, who is facing a reelection challenge in the August Republican primary from state Sen. Chris McDaniel.

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LTG Hosemann Asks for Prayer for Madison County Police Officer Killed in Line of Duty

Brandon, Miss. (Clarion Ledger) – A Madison police officer is dead after a domestic dispute in the Crossgates neighborhood of Brandon led to a hostage standoff Thursday morning, officials said. The suspect was shot dead and a Brandon police officer also was shot and injured in the incident.

“We are devastated,” Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler said. “We are asking for prayers for the family and his fellow officers.”

The fallen Madison police officer was later identified as Horren Randy Tyler, a seven-year veteran of the Madison Police Department, according to a statement posted on the Madison Police Department website.

“In addition to being a valued member of the Department’s Special Response Team, Randy Tyler was the Department’s Field Training Coordinator, responsible for overseeing the training and career development of newly hired police officers,” the statement reads. “He was also a supervisor in the Department’s Narcotics Division. Prior to working at Madison, Randy Tyler retired as the Chief of Police for the Ridgeland Police Department. Chief Tyler was a graduate of the 228th Session o the F.B.I.”

The Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police asked for prayers for Tyler, his family and colleagues in a press statement.

“Please join us with your prayers for officers and family members of the Madison Ms Police Department and the Brandon MS Police Department,” the statement later retweeted by Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann reads. The statement also states that Tyler was “employed part time with Madison after serving a full career with the Ridgeland Police Department from which he retired as the Chief of Police.”

Hosemann expressed his own condolences in the retweet.

“Devastated to learn of the death of Madison Police Officer Randy Tyler—killed in the line of duty today. Randy is the former Ridgeland Police Chief. We are in prayer for his loved ones. #ThinBlueLine,” Hosemann’s tweet states.

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LTG Speaks at Memorial Day Service in Brookhavent

Brookhaven, Miss. (Daily Leader) – Ben Johnson’s voice broke with emotion as he read the poem “Old Glory” by the Lincoln County Military Memorial Monday morning. Johnson is Post Commander for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2618.

It was fitting for a ceremony honoring the memory and service of individuals in the U.S. Armed Forces who died in service to their country.

The 10 a.m. program began with Johnson’s welcome and remarks, followed by the singing of the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance before a flag at half mast.

Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann addressed the crowd of veterans, politicians and other citizens. He focused on work the State had accomplished and was working to accomplish on behalf of the military.

A formal announcement will be made in the coming weeks, Hosemann said, about a new Air Force cybersecurity center to be built and operated in Mississippi — the only one of its kind — for active military and students at Mississippi State University.

“I’m really proud of the amount of support we are providing for the military,” he said. “I appreciate every one of you, and Mississippi will continue to appreciate every one of you.”

Following a reading of the names of every fallen service member listed on the memorial, VFW members placed a wreath in front of the memorial and a military butler played “TAPS.”

The program concluded with a prayer, and a reception at the Military Museum.

View Original Story