What Went Down In The Mississippi Senate Runoff Election

When we’re looking back at this race, it’ll be important to take into account Espy’s existing popularity and name recognition in Mississippi. He’s a known figure in the state, which can make it harder for attacks from the GOP to stick. Meanwhile, Hyde-Smith had been attacked during the general election by another Republican candidate, and may have entered the runoff a bit bruised. It’s not a neat narrative, but I think there are a bunch of factors that have made this race competitive that have little to do with the national environment.

Clare, I’m not sure that a Democratic win would tell us all that much about 2020, other than that the GOP needs to stop nominating shitty candidates and that the Democrats ought to be running decent candidates everywhere just in case the GOP nominates shitty candidates.

Gillum was my sleeper pick in my first 2020 presidential draft back in October, but I almost think Abrams, given the potential salience on the left of the issue of voter suppression, has a higher ceiling in star power — right now at least.