Travis Childers

Last updated

A special election in Mississippi's 1st congressional district was triggered when 12-year Republican incumbent Roger Wicker was appointed by Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour to the United States Senate seat vacated by Trent Lott.

Childers was endorsed by many prominent newspapers in the region: the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, [7] the Commercial Dispatch , [8] and the Commercial Appeal . [9]

Several candidates qualified for the election. In the initial April 22 special election, Childers won 49.4 percent of the vote, falling just 400 votes short of the majority (50 percent plus one) needed to avoid a runoff. On May 13, Childers faced Republican candidate Greg Davis (who had won 46.3 percent on April 22). [10] [11] Childers won the runoff.

This election returned the district to the Democrats. The seat was held by Democrat Jamie Whitten of Charleston for 54 years, the longest tenure of any congressman until Michigan representative John Dingell passed the mark on February 11, 2009. Whitten retired in 1995 and was succeeded by Wicker. Childers' victory came as a major shock to the Republicans. The district has a decided conservative bent; Wicker had won his first race for the seat with 63 percent of the vote and had faced no serious opposition since then. The district has supported the official Democratic candidate for president only once since 1956; George W. Bush carried the district with 62 percent of the vote in 2004.

2008 general

Childers faced Greg Davis again in the general election on November 4, 2008. [1] Childers defeated Davis 54% to 44%. [12]

2010

Childers ran for re-election on November 2, 2010. He was challenged by Republican State Senator Alan Nunnelee (who held the state senate seat Wicker held before being elected to Congress), Constitutionalist Gail Giaramita, Libertarian Harold Taylor, Reformist Barbara Dale Washer, and Independent Wally Pang. Nunnelee defeated Childers, [13] 55–41.

Proving just how Republican this district still was, Childers is the only Democratic candidate in the district to win as much as 40 percent of the vote since Whitten's retirement.

2014 Senate election

Childers campaigning for U.S. Senate Travis Childers.jpg
Childers campaigning for U.S. Senate

Childers ran for the United States Senate in 2014. [14] [15] His Republican opponent was incumbent Thad Cochran. Childers was endorsed by the Alliance for Retired Americans during his Senate campaign. [16] Childers lost the election to Cochran on November 4, 2014.

Positions on issues

Childers identifies himself as a moderate Democrat. Childers supports increased funding for public education. He favored a swift withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. [17] He is against privatization of Social Security and raising the age of retirement. Childers describes himself as pro-life and pro-gun, [18] and he was endorsed by the National Right to Life Committee [19] and the NRA Political Victory Fund [20] [21] in his 2010 reelection campaign. Childers said he supports job creation, increasing the minimum wage and is a strong advocate for public education. [22] Childers supports tax breaks for small businesses that put people back to work, and ending tax breaks for companies that ship jobs to India and China. [23] He supports equal pay for women, and increasing the minimum wage to a livable wage. [24] Citing the national debt, Childers pledged to support a Balanced Budget Amendment. Childers has been described as a Blue Dog Democrat. [25]

Personal life

Childers and his wife, Tami, have two children: Dustin, a recent graduate from Mississippi College School of Law practices law in the family's hometown. Lauren, a graduate of the University of Mississippi is an employee of the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). Lauren Childers was Miss Ole Miss in the year 2010. His wife Tami manages the family's healthcare businesses. Travis Childers is a member of Booneville First United Methodist Church.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trent Lott</span> American politician (born 1941)

Chester Trent Lott Sr. is an American lawyer, author, and politician who represented Mississippi in the United States House of Representatives from 1973 to 1989 and in the United States Senate from 1989 to 2007. Lott served in numerous leadership positions in both chambers of Congress as one of the first of a wave of Republicans winning seats in Southern states that had been solidly Democratic. Later in his career, he served twice as Senate Majority Leader, and also, alternately, Senate Minority Leader. In 2003, he stepped down from the position after controversy due to his praising of senator Strom Thurmond's 1948 segregationist Dixiecrat presidential bid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronnie Musgrove</span> American politician

David Ronald Musgrove is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 62nd governor of Mississippi from 2000 to 2004. A Democrat, he previously served as the 29th lieutenant governor of Mississippi from 1996 to 2000. He was the Democratic nominee in the 2008 special election for one of Mississippi's seats in the United States Senate, losing to incumbent Senator Roger Wicker. Musgrove is a principal at a public affairs consulting firm, Politics. In 2014, he became founding partner of a new law firm in Jackson, Mississippi, Musgrove/Smith Law.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thad Cochran</span> American attorney and politician (1937–2019)

William Thad Cochran was an American attorney and politician who served as a United States senator for Mississippi from 1978 until his resignation due to health issues in 2018. A Republican, he previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1973 to 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Wicker</span> American lawyer and politician (born 1951)

Roger Frederick Wicker is an American attorney and politician serving as the senior United States senator from Mississippi, a seat he has held since 2007. A member of the Republican Party, Wicker was a Mississippi State Senator from 1988 to 1995 and the U.S. Representative from Mississippi's 1st congressional district from 1995 until 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gene Taylor (Mississippi politician)</span> American politician (born 1953)

Gary Eugene Taylor is an American politician who was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1989 to 2011 and previously a member of the Mississippi Senate from 1983 to 1989. He was defeated for re-election in 2010 by State Representative Steven Palazzo. In 2014, he changed his long-time membership from the Democratic Party, becoming a Republican. The same year, he ran for election against Palazzo to return to the House of Representatives. Securing only 43 percent of the vote, Taylor lost in the primary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chet Edwards</span> American politician (born 1951)

Thomas Chester Edwards is an American politician who was a United States Representative from Texas, representing a district based in Waco, from 1991 to 2011. Previously, he served in the Texas Senate from 1983 to 1990. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Edwards was on Barack Obama's vice presidential shortlist in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russ Carnahan</span> American politician (born 1958)

John Russell Carnahan is an American politician from the state of Missouri. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the U.S. representative for Missouri's 3rd congressional district from 2005 to 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 United States Senate election in Mississippi</span>

The 2008 United States Senate election in Mississippi was held on November 4, 2008. The seat was regularly scheduled for election, unlike the special election taking place on the same day. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Thad Cochran won re-election to a sixth term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Mississippi's 1st congressional district special election</span>

The 2008 Mississippi 1st congressional district special election was a special election in the state of Mississippi to determine who would serve the remainder of former Representative Roger Wicker's term. After an April 22, 2008 ballot resulted in no candidate receiving a majority, Democratic Party candidate Travis Childers defeated Republican candidate Greg Davis in a runoff election on May 13, 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 United States Senate special election in Mississippi</span>

The 2008 United States Senate special election in Mississippi was held on November 4, 2008. This election was held on the same day of Thad Cochran's re-election bid in the regularly scheduled Class II election. The winner of this special election served the rest of the Senate term, which ended in January 2013. Unlike most Senate elections, this was a non-partisan election in which the candidate who got a majority of the vote won, and if the first-place candidate did not get 50%, a runoff election with the top two candidates would have been held. In the election, no run-off was necessary as Republican nominee and incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Roger Wicker won election to finish the term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris McDaniel</span> American politician

Christopher Brian McDaniel is an American attorney, talk radio host, perennial candidate for statewide office, and far-right politician who has served in the Mississippi State Senate since 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cindy Hyde-Smith</span> American politician (born 1959)

Cindy Hyde-Smith is an American politician serving as the junior United States senator from Mississippi since 2018. A member of the Republican Party, she was previously the Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce and a member of the Mississippi State Senate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rick Boucher</span> American politician (born 1946)

Frederick Carlyle Boucher is an American politician who was the U.S. representative for Virginia's 9th congressional district from 1983 to 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He was defeated in his bid for a 15th term by Republican Morgan Griffith in the 2010 elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 United States presidential election in Mississippi</span> Election in Mississippi

The 2008 United States presidential election in Mississippi took place on November 4, 2008, and was part of the 2008 United States presidential election. Voters chose 6 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi</span>

Elections were held on November 2, 2010, to determine Mississippi's four members of the United States House of Representatives. Representatives were elected for two-year terms to serve in the 112th United States Congress from January 3, 2011, until January 3, 2013. Primary elections were held on June 1, 2010, and primary runoff elections on June 22.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 United States Senate election in Mississippi</span>

The 2014 United States Senate election in Mississippi was held on November 4, 2014, to elect a member of the United States Senate. Incumbent Republican Senator Thad Cochran, first elected in 1978, ran for re-election to a seventh term. Primary elections were held on June 3, 2014.

North Mississippi is a region in the northeastern portion of the U.S. state of Mississippi, consisting of Alcorn, Itawamba, Lee, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tippah, Tishomingo, and Union counties. These counties share a unique cultural history that distinguishes them from other areas in the state of Mississippi. As of 2010, the counties have a combined population of 267,560. Tupelo is the largest city in the region, but other notable cities include Booneville, Corinth, New Albany, and Pontotoc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States Senate election in Mississippi</span>

The 2018 United States Senate election in Mississippi took place on November 6, 2018, in order to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Mississippi. Incumbent Republican Roger Wicker was re-elected to a second full term, defeating his Democratic challenger, David Baria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States Senate special election in Mississippi</span>

The 2018 United States Senate special election in Mississippi took place on November 6, 2018.

William Tracy Arnold is an American politician, representing the 3rd district in the Mississippi House of Representatives since 2012.

References

  1. 1 2 "Clarion Ledger: Childers wins 1st District for Democrats". Clarionledger.com. Retrieved 2013-10-23.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. 1 2 "ABOUT TRAVIS | Travis W. Childers for U.S. Senate" . Retrieved 2014-05-14.
  3. ↑ "Travis Childers wins Democrat nomination for Senate, awaits Cochran or McDaniel". 4 June 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  4. ↑ Travis W. Childers Principal Broker, Childers Realty and Associates
  5. 1 2 "Project Vote Smart - Representative Travis W. Childers - Voting Record". Votesmart.org. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
  6. ↑ Brett (2010-03-25). "Childers Won't Push Healthcare Repeal " Majority In Mississippi". Majorityinms.com. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
  7. ↑ "Editorial: Childers best choice." Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal 18 April 2008.
  8. ↑ "Childers for Congress." Commercial Dispatch 20 April 2008 Archived July 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ "Childers for Mississippi's 1st District." Commercial Appeal 11 May 2008.
  10. ↑ "The Clarion-Ledger: Mississippi's News Source". 26 April 2008. Archived from the original on 26 April 2008. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  11. ↑ "An Alarm Bell Goes Off for GOP in Mississippi". Realclearpolitics.com. 2008-04-23. Retrieved 2013-10-23.
  12. ↑ "Local and National Election Results - Election Center 2008 - Elections & Politics from". CNN.com. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
  13. ↑ "Blue Dog Childers unseated in 1st District". Hattiesburg American. Associated Press. November 2, 2010. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Childers to run for Senate in Miss". Politico . 28 February 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  15. ↑ Blake, Aaron (15 November 2013). "Ex-Rep. Travis Childers (D) considering run for Mississippi Senate seat". The Washington Post . Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  16. ↑ "Union retiree group endorses Childers" . Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  17. ↑ Brumfield, Patsy R.; EMILY LE COZ (2008-04-23). "Childers, Davis to meet yet again May 13". Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. Archived from the original on April 23, 2008.
  18. ↑ "Electoral-Vote.com: May 13th Special Election". Electoral-vote.com. 2000-12-31. Retrieved 2013-10-23.
  19. ↑ "Miss. Right to Life Grades The Candidates". Majorityinms.com. Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2013-10-23.
  20. ↑ "NRA-PVF Endorses U.S. Rep. Travis Childers for Re-Election in Mississippi's 1st Congressional District". nrapvf.org. NRA-PVF. June 21, 2010. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014.
  21. ↑ West, Phil. "Travis Childers receives NRA endorsement". Commercialappeal.com. Archived from the original on 2010-06-23. Retrieved 2013-10-23.
  22. ↑ "Travis Childers outlines platform for November" . Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  23. ↑ "Thông Tin Cập Nhật Về Tình Hình Xuất Nhập Khẩu Việt Nam". childersforsenate.com. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  24. ↑ Harrison, Bobby. "Childers highlights minimum wage, equal pay" . Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  25. ↑ "Blue Dog Coalition". House.gov. 2009-04-27. Archived from the original on June 15, 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
Travis Childers
Travischilders.jpg
Member of the U.S.HouseofRepresentatives
from Mississippi's 1st district
In office
May 13, 2008 –January 3, 2011
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Mississippi's 1st congressional district
2008–2011		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Mississippi
(Class 2)
2014 		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Representative		Succeeded byas Former US Representative
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.