Chris McDaniel will run for Cochran seat in special election
WASHINGTON _ Mississippi state Sen. Chris McDaniel announced Wednesday he will switch from challenging GOP Sen. Roger Wicker in a primary to running in the November special election for resigning Sen. Thad Cochran's seat.
"By announcing early, we are asking Mississippi Republicans to unite around my candidacy and avoid another contentious contest among GOP members that would only improve the Democrats' chances of winning the open seat," McDaniel said in a statement, alluding to Republicans' loss in an Alabama special election late last year.
Cochran announced his resignation from the Senate earlier this month, which will take effect April 1. Republican Gov. Phil Bryant will appoint a placeholder to fill the seat until the November special election when candidates from all parties will run together. The top two candidates will then advance to a runoff if no one clears 50 percent of the vote.
McDaniel came close to ousting Cochran in the June 2014 primary, but Cochran ultimately prevailed in the runoff.
_CQ-Roll Call
