Taylor Vance

Covering campaigns & state government for @MSTODAYnews. Previously @DJournalnow. Always craving Delta tamales and a good story.

[Taylor Vance @taylorcvance]

His efforts never crossed the finish line of the legislative process, but he raised this issue more than any other MS legislator in recent years.

[Taylor Vance @taylorcvance]

I will always respect Rep. Price Wallace’s efforts to try and reform Mississippi’s felony disenfranchisement systems, one of the most restrictive systems in the nation that strips voting rights away from certain felons for life.

[Mississippi Today @MSTODAYnews]

Rep. Price Wallace, a Republican state lawmaker from Mendenhall who was known for his big cowboy hat, his knowledge of agriculture issues and his effort to restore a state ballot initiative process, has died, House Speaker Jason White said Wednesday. https://t.co/qmesGDfAjS

[Taylor Vance @taylorcvance]

It’s long been a thorny issue, steeped in Jim Crow practices. Rep. Wallace said on MS Today’s podcast once that he realized this issue wasn’t popular in his party, but he simply believed people deserved a second chance and forgiveness.

[Mississippi Today @MSTODAYnews]

Experts tracking how states are spending billions of federal dollars to improve rural healthcare told a panel of lawmakers on Thursday what many of them already knew: Mississippi is uniquely opaque about how it will spend this money. https://t.co/JW6aMdNwA3

[Taylor Vance @taylorcvance]

I know much of the attention will be focused on the local DA and the state circuit court judge who presided over this case.

But something that shouldn't be overlooked is that the U.S. Supreme Court has now twice in recent years reversed the MS Supreme Court on Batson decisions.

[Mississippi Today @MSTODAYnews]

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled for a Black death row inmate from Mississippi who claims there was racial bias in the makeup of the jury that convicted him.
https://t.co/F5L3Ut2cSQ

via @AP

[Taylor Vance @taylorcvance]

State Rep. @JansenOwen will leave the Legislature next year to run for district attorney in the 15th Circuit Court district, which includes his home area of Pearl River County.

Owen had previously been mentioned as a potential candidate for statewide office in 2027.

[Mississippi Today @MSTODAYnews]

Thousands rally in Jackson to protest redistricting efforts across the South

More coverage: https://t.co/WqNHKj66WW

[Taylor Vance @taylorcvance]

If the majority-Republican Legislature wants to pass a new map that splits up the Coast, Lee County and Rankin County -- all of which are GOP strongholds -- that's certainly a choice.

[Taylor Vance @taylorcvance]

I've seen several versions of this map going around about how to redraw Mississippi's congressional districts. This map could never work and isn't realistic for a couple of reasons:
1) I am extremely doubtful that these numbers boost Republican gains like they say they will.

[Taylor Vance @taylorcvance]

2) This map splits the Gulf Coast region. I find it extremely unlikely that Republican leaders on the Coast want the region to be split up.
3) It's splitting up several Republican strongholds like Lee County in northeast MS and Rankin County in the metro area.

[Mississippi Today @MSTODAYnews]

“It’s a slap in the face to the 1.2 million African Americans in this state to be meeting in the place that established the 1890 Constitution that disenfranchised African Americans,” Rep. Kabir Karriem said. https://t.co/uvPx6sMbtM

[Shad White @shadwhite]

Mississippi redistricting update:

New reporting over the weekend suggests President Trump’s team is increasing the pressure on Mississippi to redraw the district that was drawn to protect Bennie Thompson.

As of right now I’m the only statewide official or member of Congress to explicitly call for redrawing the districts, but I bet that will change soon.

The legislature returns to town in two weeks.

[The Redistrict Network @RedistrictNet]

#NEW: President Trump urges Mississippi lawmakers to redraw the state’s congressional map. https://t.co/9xQbUkVHt0

[Adam Ganucheau @GanucheauAdam]

@taylorcvance scoop: Trump pressuring Mississippi Republicans to redraw congressional districts ahead of midterms.

Target: Bennie Thompson, who led J6 Committee and state’s only Black delegate.

MS held primaries in March. Fifth Circuit path favorable?

https://t.co/k7YhaGEEtl

[Taylor Vance @taylorcvance]

President Trump is urging MS officials to redraw the state’s congressional districts and flip its lone Democratic seat to a Republican one. To do that, they would have to dilute Black communities in the MS Delta and Jackson metro area.
https://t.co/Bl8EzlZvn7

[Julie O'Donoghue @JSODonoghue]

Respectfully, my local Louisiana news outlet had a story up hours before the WaPo saying the Louisiana Republicans were considering canceling the elections @daveweigel. https://t.co/W9Trd1Xs02

[Rep. Lee Yancey @LeeYanceyMS]

Senator Dean Kirby has faithfully served us in the State Senate since 1992, and I am grateful for his decades of leadership. It was an honor to serve alongside him in the Senate from 2008 to 2012, and I greatly appreciate his commitment to our community.
With Senator Kirby’s recent announcement that he will not seek re-election, I am announcing my candidacy today in Senate District 30 because I believe it is the best way for me to do more for Rankin County.
Having previously served in the Senate and returning to the Mississippi Legislature in 2020 as a member of the House of Representatives, I have had the honor of serving as Chairman of the Drug Policy Committee as well as the Business and Commerce Committee.
My unique background of previously serving in the Senate and now serving in the House gives me strong working relationships within the Legislature. I want to use that experience to help Rankin County even more in the future.
During my time in the Legislature, I have worked to support economic growth, improve education, strengthen our workforce, support law enforcement and address critical issues affecting Mississippi families. This year, I was proud to work with the Rankin County delegation to help secure millions of dollars in funding for our county—investments that support infrastructure, growth and the long-term success for our community.
As the son of a public school teacher and parent of public school graduates, I have worked hard to improve our schools. I voted for the largest teacher pay raise in our state’s history in 2022—and another teacher pay raise in 2026.
I am honored to have been recognized as Legislator of the Year by both the Subcontractors Association and the Homebuilders Association. I have consistently received A ratings from BIPEC for my support of pro-business legislation, and I have also been recognized as Pro-Lifer of the Year and as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Legislators.
Most importantly, I am grateful for my family. My wife, Courtney, and I have been married for 33 years, and we are blessed with two children and two grandchildren. We are active members of Pinelake Church.
I would be honored to continue serving the people of Rankin County in State Senate District 30 in the future, and I ask for your support in the 2027 election as we work together for a stronger Mississippi for our children and grandchildren.

[Mississippi Today @MSTODAYnews]

A federal judge in Mississippi will soon decide if she should go forward with adopting a new Mississippi Supreme Court district map now that the nation’s highest court has significantly weakened the federal Voting Rights Act. https://t.co/jI9zRbGlqs

[David Weigel @daveweigel]

Mississippi and Florida both moving with the expectation that SCOTUS (read: Alito) will send Section 2 of the VRA to a nice farm upstate, where it can run around and play with Roe and Chevron.

[Taylor Vance @taylorcvance]

Mississippi lawmakers tried to shell out $2 million in tax dollars to help fund the construction of a private Elvis-themed Tupelo hotel project connected to a state official’s family, but Gov. Tate Reeves vetoed it.

[Mississippi Today @MSTODAYnews]

The Tupelo project is the latest example of how the Legislature’s practice of earmarking hundreds of millions of dollars for pet projects based on politics lacks transparency and how even local leaders can be shut out of the process. https://t.co/Gca4YaZkom