Mississippi — 1st District

Cliff Johnson

Supports working-class relief and economic fairness

Johnson argues that stagnant wages and soaring prices for housing, groceries, healthcare, and utilities leave working Mississippians struggling to make ends meet. He opposes corporate tax cuts and seeks federal policies to curb inflation and support middle-class families.

• Combats inflation and policies driving up basic living costs.
• Opposes federal tax cuts for corporations and high earners.
• Advocates for North Mississippi to receive its fair share of federal economic development funds.

“out-of-control prices and stagnant wages are devastating working Mississippians. People are working harder than ever, but they still can't make ends meet.”

“the Trump Administration and politicians who support it are focused on giving tax cuts to the super-rich and making sure corporations continue to enjoy record profits.”

Trent Kelly

Supports deregulation, spending cuts, and tax relief

Kelly advocates for reducing federal regulations on small businesses and stopping tax-and-spend policies to stimulate job growth. He emphasizes federal fiscal discipline and living within a budget similar to households and small businesses.

• Fights federal regulations affecting small businesses.
• Opposes tax-and-spend federal policy proposals.
• Voted for the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 and the 2025 House budget reconciliation bill.

“I will fight to stop the out of control federal regulations that are being placed on our small businesses. I will fight to stop the tax and spend policies of the last eight years and work to encourage economic growth and prosperity.”

“Individuals, families and small businesses in Mississippi understand the importance of setting a budget and living within their means.”

Cliff Johnson

Supports reforming the criminal legal system

Johnson emphasizes his career as a civil rights attorney fighting system abuses, ending debtors' prisons, and securing legal counsel for indigent defendants. He supports funding reentry and substance abuse programs to target the root causes of crime.

• Ended illegal debtors' prisons across Mississippi.
• Secured legal representation for poor defendants held without counsel.
• Pushes for federal funding for reentry and addiction treatment programs.

“As a civil rights lawyer who has practiced law in Mississippi for 33 years, I have ended debtors' prisons across Mississippi, successfully fought to make sure poor defendants have access to counsel, and consistently stood up for the most vulnerable when they are under attack.”

“refusing to fund reentry and substance abuse programs to actually get at the core causes of crime and poverty.”

Trent Kelly

Supports strict law enforcement and public safety

Kelly leverages his professional experience as a municipal prosecutor and district attorney to support strict public safety legislation. He has voted for expanded detention and deportation mandates for undocumented immigrants arrested for theft or driving under the influence.

• Served as Tupelo City prosecutor and district attorney for Mississippi's 1st Judicial District.
• Voted for the Laken Riley Act requiring detention of noncitizens arrested for burglary or theft.
• Voted for legislation making DUI offenses grounds for deportation and inadmissible status.

Cliff Johnson

Supports protecting VA and federal workforce

Johnson criticizes political efforts to dismantle federal agencies or villainize personnel at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Citing his father's service as a disabled Vietnam veteran, he advocates for institutional stability and support for veterans.

• Opposes dismantling federal agencies and defending VA personnel.
• Opposes the politicization of the United States military.

“The politicization of our military, assault on our judiciary, and dismantling of government agencies destabilize our country and make us less safe and less secure. Federal employees at places like the VA aren't villains.”

Trent Kelly

Supports strong defense and military funding

Kelly, a Brigadier General in the Mississippi Army National Guard and veteran of two Iraq deployments, prioritizes military readiness and defense spending. He serves as Chair of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee and strongly backs allies like Israel.

• Serves on the House Armed Services and Permanent Select Intelligence committees.
• Chairs the Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces.
• Opposes defense budget cuts and advocates full equipment support for service members.

“We cannot get the budget of this nation back on track by only cutting from our defense budget. I believe in a strong military.”

“Israel is our strongest and most trusted ally in a hostile region of the world. Israel is our friend, and I support Israel.”

Cliff Johnson

Supports constitutional checks and balances

Johnson calls for preserving executive power limits, constitutional checks and balances, and judicial independence. As a law professor, he pledges to resist actions that consolidate power in a single branch of government.

• Protects separation of powers and checks on executive authority.
• Defends voting rights and equal democratic representation.
• Opposes political interference in judicial and military institutions.

“The Trump Administration's assault on America's institutions must be stopped.”

“As a law professor who understands what our Constitution demands, I am committed to the fight for a political system that considers all voices and does not concentrate power in one person or one branch of government.”

Trent Kelly

Supports election integrity and congressional oversight

Kelly supports stricter federal election voter identification laws and active congressional oversight. He voted against certifying the 2020 presidential electoral votes from Arizona and Pennsylvania and backed the impeachment inquiry into President Biden.

• Voted for the SAVE Act requiring documentary proof of citizenship for federal election registration.
• Voted against certifying the 2020 presidential election results for Arizona and Pennsylvania.
• Voted to authorize the 2023 House impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.

Cliff Johnson

Supports expanding affordable healthcare access

Johnson focuses on protecting healthcare coverage under Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, warning against federal cuts. Citing his experience coordinating federal healthcare fraud enforcement at the Department of Justice, he pledges to make health insurance affordable.

• Protects and expands affordable health care access.
• Defends Medicaid and Affordable Care Act coverage against federal cuts.
• Cites past DOJ experience pursuing fraud against major healthcare providers.

“more individuals are driven into bankruptcy as a result of health care bills than any other debt. Insurance is unaffordable for too many, and tens of thousands of Mississippians who have insurance through Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act are about to lose coverage.”

Trent Kelly

Supports strict border enforcement and restrictions

Kelly consistently supports Republican border security measures, including asylum restrictions and mandatory employer verification. He voted to impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over federal border management.

• Voted for the Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2).
• Voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
• Supported mandatory electronic employment eligibility verification (E-Verify).

Cliff Johnson

Supports increased funding for public schools

Johnson views strong local public schools as the key to economic development and personal opportunity. He advocates for securing additional federal funding for under-resourced public school districts in North Mississippi.

• Advocates federal funding support for struggling local public schools.
• Links public school quality directly to economic development in Mississippi.

“high quality local public schools are key to personal success and community economic development. Our schools lack the support they need to thrive.”