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Justin James

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Justin James
Image of Justin James

Candidate, U.S. House Mississippi District 3

Elections and appointments
Next election

November 3, 2026

Education

High school

Union High School

Personal
Birthplace
Meridian, Miss.
Religion
Baptist
Profession
Security Officer
Contact

Justin James (Republican Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Mississippi's 3rd Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.

James completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Justin James was born in Meridian, Mississippi. He earned a high school diploma from Union High School. His career experience includes working as a security officer and insurance agent. James has been affiliated with Young Americans for Liberty.[1][2]

Elections

2026

See also: Mississippi's 3rd Congressional District election, 2026

Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for U.S. House Mississippi District 3

Incumbent Michael Guest, Michael Chiaradio, Justin James, and Shaun McInnish Sr. are running in the general election for U.S. House Mississippi District 3 on November 3, 2026.


Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

2023

See also: Mississippi House of Representatives elections, 2023

General election

General election for Mississippi House of Representatives District 44

Incumbent C. Scott Bounds defeated Phillip E. Pope in the general election for Mississippi House of Representatives District 44 on November 7, 2023.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of C. Scott Bounds
C. Scott Bounds (R)
 
89.7
 
4,967
Phillip E. Pope (L)
 
10.3
 
568

Total votes: 5,535
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Mississippi House of Representatives District 44

Incumbent C. Scott Bounds advanced from the Republican primary for Mississippi House of Representatives District 44 on August 8, 2023.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of C. Scott Bounds
C. Scott Bounds
 
100.0
 
4,999

Total votes: 4,999
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for James in this election.

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Justin James completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by James' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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I am a resident of the Little Rock, Mississippi community. I work as a lead in a respected security department. I was born in Meridian, Mississippi and grew up in Little Rock, Mississippi. I currently serve as a proud member of the House Vlunteer Fire Department in the House community. I am a graduate and Union High School and attended Mississippi State University. I am running in the 2026 Republican primary for the office of U.S. Representative in Mississippi's 3rd District.
  • I will help to continue the America First movement and make it known that Mississippi will no longer be viewed last. Mississippi values will be brought to the forefront. Mississippi will progress. America will move forward.
  • Mississippi's economic growth and its earnings should be more readily available to rural areas, so that those areas can also benefit economically.
  • America was built on hard work, dedication, and conservative values. I will work tirelessly to help guide America back to its roots.
Areas that I am very passionate about are Education, Public Health, and National Security. Other policy I have interests in are AI Regulation, Economic Development, and Social Policy.
There are several characteristics that are important to possess. Someone elected to office must possess integrity, honesty, accountability, commitment to public interest, and respect for the rule of law. Responsiveness, effectiveness, courage, and resilience are also very important.
The primary responsibility for this office is representing and advocating for constituents. Other key responsibilities are introducing common sense laws, originating revenue bills, developing policy, and above all else, community outreach.
I want to be known as someone who did everything possible to meet the needs of and provide for the community and help better the lives of the people.
The first major historical event I remember is Hurricane Katrina. I was only four years old at the time, but I remember how people came together and united. Watching people care for and help others that they had never met before has always stuck with me.
My favorite book is 'The Stand' by Stephen King. The book has incredible levels of relatability, as it explores realistic behavior. The novel features a diverse cast of characters with compelling flaws, making the characters feel more like real world individuals. The novel contains themes of societal breakdown, battles of good versus evil, and themes of resilience and faith.
The U.S. House of Representatives has a large size, short election cycles, and specific, exclusive powers that make it unique. It is the chamber most directly and intimately connected to the will of the American people. The governing process becomes more efficient with the emphasis on majority rule. Proportional representation containing seats allocated to each state based on population makes the house the only federal institution that truly reflects the country's proportional demographics. The short two-year election cycle makes the House highly responsive to shifts in public opinion and political priorities. The House's exclusive powers add to its uniqueness. With the power to initiate revenue bills, the chamber has significant influence over federal fiscal policy and appropriations. The House has the sole authority to initiate impeachment before a trial begins, meaning it is the only institution with that power. In the event that no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes in a presidential election, the House is responsible for electing the President. All of these thongs and more make the House a unique, intriguing, and appealing institution.
I believe that experience is helpful, but it's not always beneficial. After holding the office and being around policy constantly can actually hinder the response to events or activities happening out in the world, especially those involving the younger generation. Sometimes, younger and less policy experienced individuals are more beneficial to government because they are often times more immersed in what's going on in society.
There are several. Federal debt and spending are the biggest challenges faced by the United States. We have to work to lower those numbers quickly and efficiently. Healthcare costs are through the roof. Political polarization is growing and creating a bigger partisan divide in the United States. We have to work diligently to unite our people. Housing costs continue to rise. The rapid development of artificial intelligence and potential threats to cybersecurity are areas that must be managed more directly. The shift toward globalization and its impact on jobs must be studied. While creating economic benefits, too many jobs are being lost, and incomes are being wiped away. We must work to bring back jobs to the people of the United States.
In some way, yes. In others, no. Two-year terms increase accountability and prevent detachment, but often times, too much time is spent campaigning rather than governing. Two-year terms allow for adapting to political shifts, but can discourage long-term policy solutions, increase lobbyist influence, and create inefficient lawmaking.
I support term limits on members of Congress. Spending decades in one office, especially those not doing the job the people selected them for, and continuing to collect paychecks is not only wrong, but in a way, it's immoral. A President is limited to a set number of terms. Congressional offices should be limited also.
Compromise is crucial to pluralistic democratic republic such as the United States, but that compromise is not always necessary or desirable. An overreliance on compromise can lead to gridlock or result in sacrificing core principles in policy. Compromise is often necessary as a practical tool for achieving pragmatism over idealism when ideal solutions are not feasible, as well as when it comes to checks and balances. Compromise is not necessarily desirable when debating fundamental principles as compromising on certain moral issues or core values may be viewed in lights other than pragmatic. Compromise is not desirable in campaign markets where political opponents focus on each other rather than actually governing the people, as shameful as it may be. All in all, it comes to the need for stability versus the need for change. Even though there may be disagreements, compromise promotes stability and provides a mechanism for resolution.
This allows for the opportunity to initiate and push legislation to lower federal tax rates for individuals and businesses. It also becomes a critical tool for enforcing fiscal conservatism. I would utilize origination to ensure that the initial legislative language reflects conservative values and that the debate centers on the priorities of the House majority.
The House should continue to investigate corporate and institutional policies related to Environmental, Social, and Governance, as well Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies in place, particularly those in place at public universities. In addition to this, the House should continue conducting oversight of social media companies regarding alleged censorship of conservative viewpoints, data security practices, and foreign influence. Other investigative practices should include focusing on prescription drug pricing, price transparency, and even investigations into private companies that receive federal funding.
Elected officials in the U.S. government should primarily allow state and local bodies to determine the best means to utilize and oversee artificial intelligence, emphasizing responsible use aligned with state policies and values. That being said, artificial intelligence should be heavily studied in regards to its applications, risks, and policy recommendations for state use. There should be a focus on the U.S. being a global leader in the development and use of artificial intelligence, as well as a focus on studying the potential threats posed to data and cybersecurity.
I would enact more stringent photo ID requirements for in-person voting or absentee ballot applications. I would push for states to reduce early voting periods and require mail-in ballots to be received by Election Day. I would push for states to collect documentary proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, for all new and updated voter registrations. I would also push to ban private funding for election administration. I would also push for states to require photo ID for both in-person and mail-in voting, restrict the use of drop boxes, and ban same-day voter registration

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2023

Candidate Connection

Justin James completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by James' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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I am a resident of the House, Mississippi community. I am an independent insurance agent, demolition laborer, and recording artist. I am running in the 2023 Republican primary for the office of Mississippi House of Representatives in District 44.
  • Our educational institutions should receive equal and proper funding. This would ensure that all of our students receive the same educational opportunities.
  • Our district's economic growth and its earnings should be more readily available to our rural areas, so that those areas can also benefit economically.
  • Necessary changes must be made to improve the quality of life for all residents of not only our district, but all of Mississippi. I will do that by allowing the citizens to be directly involved in the decision making process.

Mississippi's K-12 Public Education Policy, Budget and Finances Policy, and Healtch Care Policy are all very important to me. Neither are perfect, but there are more positive policies in place than negative. Improvements can still be made, and I will do everything in my ability to make those improvements.
I believe the core responsibilities of this office are to listen to member software the community and state, to understand their needs, and to meet those needs in an efficient manner.
The legacy I want to leave is being the person who did everything he could to meet the needs and provide for his community.
Professional recording artist. Started in 2017 and still occasionally perform to present day.
The last song that got stuck in my head was the song "red" by HARDY, featuring Morgan Wallen. It's an amazing song with a relatable message.
The Governor should work closely with the state legislature, regardless of which party holds control. A close working relationship allows for the opportunity to make the best decisions for our citizens.
I perceive Mississippi's greatest challenge over the next decade will be equally and properly funding our educational institutions. Due to the state's current low economic status, we will see difficulties in funding not only the institutions themselves, but providing funding to increase the salary of our educators. I will do everything in my ability to provide our education systems with equal and proper funding to improve the quality of education for our students and increase the pay of our teachers
I believe there are benefits to having prior experience when dealing with major policies, however, fresh faces with newer ideas and fresh ideologies will also benefit politics, especially in today's society. Younger politicians are potentially more prone to creating and presenting legislature for modern issues.
I believe it is very beneficial to build relationships with other legislators. All legislators work for the same citizens and should work together with each other to find the best benefits for our citizens.
One particular legislator I am very proud of is one of Mississippi's current U.S. Representatives, Michael Guest. Representative Guest continues to fight for Mississippi at the Federal level, and I belive he is doing an amazing job.
I may consider running for U.S. Congress in the future, but at the moment, I'm most interested in working at the state level to make Mississippi the best it possibly can be.
Compromise is neccessary, however, the State Congress must ensure that the compromise is not simply reached to pass a bill. The compromise must fully benefit the citizens of the state.
If elected, the first bill I will introduce to our State Congress will be a bill to provide public schools in Mississippi with equal and proper funding, regardless of the school's size or district class.
The committees of County Affairs, Education, Ethics, Forestry, Insurance, and Investigative State Offices are appealing to me.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.


Campaign finance summary


Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.


Justin James campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2026* U.S. House Mississippi District 3Candidacy Declared general$0 N/A**
2023Mississippi House of Representatives District 44Withdrew primary$0 $0
Grand total$0 N/A**
Sources: OpenSecretsFederal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

See also


External links

Footnotes

  1. Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 7, 2023
  2. Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 1, 2025


Senators
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
Republican Party (5)
Democratic Party (1)