It's Official: Dem Shanda Yates Ousts 32-Year Republican in Mississippi House

[Cattledog]

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Shanda Yates, a 38-year-old Jackson-area attorney, has ousted Billy Denny, a top Republican in the Mississippi House of Representatives who first won his seat in 1987—when Yates was just 6 years old. The Democratic political newcomer beat the longtime House District 64 incumbent by about 51% to 49%, the Hinds County Election Commission confirmed to the Jackson Free Press after finishing counting provisional ballots on Monday.

#In 2015's legislative elections, Democrats did not even field a challenger in House District 64, which includes a precinct in Madison County. Denny's last Democratic challenger was Jackson attorney Dorsey Carson, who lost by about 13 points in 2011.

#"It's really exciting. It's also a little surreal if I'm being honest. ... Always in the back of my mind, I thought, 'This is probably not going to pan out,'" Yates told the Jackson Free Press shortly after the final vote totals came in on Monday afternoon.

#Unlike other Democrats trying to unseat incumbents, Yates did not try to run as a conservative Democrat. She was honest when voters asked her about issues where she takes a more liberal view, she said, but she focused mainly on "things people cared about and were concerned about," like education and fixing the state's roads and bridges. Her campaign knocked on more than 10,000 doors, she said.

https://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2019/nov/18/its-official-dem-shanda-yates-ousts-32-year-republ/

[gademocrat7]

1. Congratulations, Shanda Yates

On your victory to unseat a long serving Republican in Mississippi. Well done!

[True Blue American]

2. Another young woman

With common sense! Keep them coming!

[gab13by13]

3. Oh Noes, not Mississippi?

What's next? Oklahoma?

Republican Senators have to be watching these results in Kentucky, Louisiana, and now Mississippi. Go ahead suckers, hitch your wagon to Trump, don't convict him, ask him to campaign for you. Senators don't get saved by gerrymandered districts.

[sandensea]

5. I'm surprised they let those results through

Ballots that don't conform to official desires have a way of disappearing in the great state of Mississippi.

[3Hotdogs]

8. 'tank God, Kansas is still safe.

Yes, Florence, its sarcasm.

[NewJeffCT]

19. they'll always have Wyoming

and it's 3 electoral votes.

[Mr. Sparkle]

4. Everytime i hear of results like this , it gives me hope that the Senate will be in play next year.

Congrats Shanda on a hell of a win

[Tanuki]

6. Hurray for Shanda Yates! Her campaign received support from the Sister Districts project

https://sisterdistrict.com/candidates/shanda-yates/

https://sisterdistrict.com/about-us/

[JudyM]

17. Thanks for posting about this, Tanuki.

Worth a post of its own. I don’t recall reading about this group, but what a great idea it is!

[in2herbs]

7. Per the article: "Unlike other Democrats trying to unseat incumbents, Yates did not try to run

as a conservative Democrat."

A woman and a non-conservative Democrat who relies on honesty wins a long-held R seat in a red state.

What happened to having to be "centrist" in order to win? (snark)

Congrats to her!

[mwooldri]

9. I'm thinking people want honesty in their politicians.

Unlike the present occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

[Sherman A1]

11. +1

I am reminded of what Harry Truman said, "Given the choice between a Republican and someone who acts like a Republican, people will vote for the real Republican all the time".

[JudyM]

18. Oh, snap!

[Hortensis]

13. She ran on local issues. Roads and schools ARE intensely "centrist"

because they serve the huge bipartisan electorate who become a united center when it comes to getting rid of traffic jams on the way to work.

She avoided divisive cultural and economic issues. She's obviously female, but she could and did let that speak quietly for itself, not crusading for women's rights and only stating her positions briefly if asked.

Congrats to her and those who elected her!

[Mr. Evil]

14. I live in Kentucky and Amy McGrath's campaign is trying that.

She's trying to appeal to the McConnell voters by appearing to be Republican lite, conservative Democrat, centrist. People are not as dumb as most may think. They'll see right through that and dismiss her. She should take a closer look at what Yates did and just go with the truth which, I believe, is what the vast majority really wants. The Democratic vs. the Republican record speaks for itself. Just tell the truth!

[Kaleva]

16. She stressed the importance of working with Republicans

She also talked about how in her legal career, she has represented everyone from the injured, small business owners and Fortune %00 companies. While she does appear to oppose the most restrictive laws on abortion, I don't know if one would say she's pro-chocie.

It appears she ran as a Centrist.

[BumRushDaShow]

10. Congrats to her!

We need to get as many Democrats elected in our states (whether at the gubernatorial level and/or in the state legislatures/state courts) as we can in time for the 2020 census. These state elections will determine our fate over the next 10 or so years.

[Tarc]

12. This should be a warning shot to Blue Dogs

Start inching left.

[Kaleva]

21. Looking at her camapign webiste, I get the impression she is a blue dog.

[bucolic_frolic]

15. How Republicans see this

He lost to a girl!

Sweet to roast the Old Boy Network.

[Skidmore]

22. From the article.

Denny served in the U.S. Air Force and is a retired executive of Barclays/American Credit, a multinational banking company. In the House, he is the chairman of the Apportionment and Elections Committee, and would have led efforts to redraw House District maps in 2020 if he had won the final count.