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Mississippi's 3rd Congressional District election, 2026

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2024
Mississippi's 3rd Congressional District
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General election
Election details
Filing deadline: Pending
Primary: March 10, 2026
Primary runoff: April 7, 2026
General: November 3, 2026
How to vote
Poll times:

7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voting in Mississippi

Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican
DDHQ and The Hill: Pending
Inside Elections: Solid Republican
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026
See also
Mississippi's 3rd Congressional District
U.S. Senate1st2nd3rd4th
Mississippi elections, 2026
U.S. Congress elections, 2026
U.S. Senate elections, 2026
U.S. House elections, 2026

All U.S. House districts, including the 3rd Congressional District of Mississippi, are holding elections in 2026. The general election is November 3, 2026. To learn more about other elections on the ballot, click here.

Candidates and election results

Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:

  • Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
  • Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies

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 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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Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Image of Michael Chiaradio

WebsiteFacebookYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography "Born and raised in Teaneck, New Jersey, Chiaradio pursued a college baseball career that took him to more than 40 states. He later played in the inaugural season of what became the Empire Professional Baseball League and worked in operations for the league after retiring from the field. Following his baseball career, he launched several small business ventures. The most notable was a professional softball league called the American Softball Association (ASBA Softball) in Satsuma, Alabama. Over two summers, he brought together athletes from across the country and created a platform for women’s sports that did not otherwise exist. Chiaradio went on to earn an MBA from Felician University, build a six-figure investment portfolio, and spend nearly four years in leadership at Maximus Inc., a global government contractor that supports Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. Chiaradio now lives in Shubuta, Mississippi with his four loyal dogs, where he owns and operates a regenerative farm."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


Investing in Our People: Simply raising taxes or cutting spending does not solve our economic problems. We need BETTER spending that invests in our people.


America's Competitive Advantages: Yes, we should protect manufacturing and other critical industries, but we should also focus on our natural strengths. Agriculture and Healthcare are examples of foundational competitive advantages that can, and should, lead the United States into the future. We must make intelligent investments to ensure that American agriculture remains a cornerstone of our economy and a source of prosperity for generations to come. And we must also use America’s growing need for quality healthcare to build assets that strengthen our healthcare industry and make us more valuable to the entire world.


North American Production: North America should not compete alone; we should grow together into a leading force in global markets.

Image of Justin James

WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography "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."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


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.

Voting information

See also: Voting in Mississippi

Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

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.

Expand all | Collapse all

Investing in Our People: Simply raising taxes or cutting spending does not solve our economic problems. We need BETTER spending that invests in our people.

America's Competitive Advantages: Yes, we should protect manufacturing and other critical industries, but we should also focus on our natural strengths. Agriculture and Healthcare are examples of foundational competitive advantages that can, and should, lead the United States into the future. We must make intelligent investments to ensure that American agriculture remains a cornerstone of our economy and a source of prosperity for generations to come. And we must also use America’s growing need for quality healthcare to build assets that strengthen our healthcare industry and make us more valuable to the entire world.

North American Production: North America should not compete alone; we should grow together into a leading force in global markets.
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.
1. Achieving economic sustainability for America

2. Maintaining America's global competitive position 3. Investments in Agriculture and Rural Communities 4. Regenerative Farming and Soil Health 5. Healthcare Access & Affordability 6. Improving Trade and Foreign Policy Relationships with both Allies and Rivals 7. Grassroots Democracy and Voter Participation in Mississippi

8. Establishing a new, viable direction for the Democratic Party
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.
Realism, a pursuit of objective truth, and as much honesty as possible.
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.
Congressional leaders should utilize a policy framework that is general enough to work for various constituencies across America. They should then build coalitions in Washington DC around those policy frameworks to help get resources to the respective State and Local Officials who can strategically execute on a more granular level.
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.
Bill Clinton's reelection in 1996, I was 6 years old.
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 very short terms force representatives to be more responsive to the will and sentiment of the people, at least in theory.
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.
Yes, experience can be a tremendous asset and I will develop relationships with fellow representatives and staff members to help accelerate my learning curve as a freshman lawmaker. However, experience can also expose weaknesses and become a liability. For example, if an incumbent has presided over the same problem for a long time, they may have experience dealing with the problem, but their approach is likely ineffective.
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.
Competing constructively in a multipolar world while simultaneously addressing economic sustainability issues domestically
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.
No, I believe we should study and learn from history, but I am focused on just being myself.
Yes, and I hope for more bipartisanship, but compromise is also necessary within a political party.
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


You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:

Campaign finance

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Michael Guest Republican Party $507,709 $195,742 $823,313 As of September 30, 2025
Michael Chiaradio Democratic Party $5,983 $263 $5,720 As of September 30, 2025
Justin James Republican Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Shaun McInnish Libertarian Party $0 $0 $0 As of October 12, 2025

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.
*** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

General election race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

  • Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
  • Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
  • Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[1]
  • Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[2][3][4]

Race ratings: Mississippi's 3rd Congressional District election, 2026
Race trackerRace ratings
10/14/202510/7/20259/30/20259/23/2025
The Cook Political Report with Amy WalterSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid Republican
Decision Desk HQ and The HillPendingPendingPendingPending
Inside Elections with Nathan L. GonzalesSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid Republican
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal BallSafe RepublicanSafe RepublicanSafe RepublicanSafe Republican
Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week.

Ballot access

This section will contain information on ballot access related to this state's elections when it is available.

District history

The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2020.

2024

See also: Mississippi's 3rd Congressional District election, 2024

Mississippi's 3rd Congressional District election, 2024 (March 12 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Mississippi District 3

Incumbent Michael Guest won election in the general election for U.S. House Mississippi District 3 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Michael Guest
Michael Guest (R)
 
100.0
 
265,159

Total votes: 265,159
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Mississippi District 3

Incumbent Michael Guest advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Mississippi District 3 on March 12, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Michael Guest
Michael Guest
 
100.0
 
66,559

Total votes: 66,559
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2022

See also: Mississippi's 3rd Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Mississippi District 3

Incumbent Michael Guest defeated Shuwaski Young in the general election for U.S. House Mississippi District 3 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Michael Guest
Michael Guest (R)
 
70.7
 
132,481
Image of Shuwaski Young
Shuwaski Young (D) Candidate Connection
 
29.3
 
54,803

Total votes: 187,284
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary runoff election

Republican primary runoff for U.S. House Mississippi District 3

Incumbent Michael Guest defeated Michael Cassidy in the Republican primary runoff for U.S. House Mississippi District 3 on June 28, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Michael Guest
Michael Guest
 
67.4
 
47,007
Image of Michael Cassidy
Michael Cassidy Candidate Connection
 
32.6
 
22,713

Total votes: 69,720
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.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Mississippi District 3

Shuwaski Young advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Mississippi District 3 on June 7, 2022.

Candidate
Image of Shuwaski Young
Shuwaski Young Candidate Connection

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.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Mississippi District 3

Incumbent Michael Guest and Michael Cassidy advanced to a runoff. They defeated Thomas Griffin in the Republican primary for U.S. House Mississippi District 3 on June 7, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Michael Guest
Michael Guest
 
47.5
 
23,675
Image of Michael Cassidy
Michael Cassidy Candidate Connection
 
46.9
 
23,407
Image of Thomas Griffin
Thomas Griffin Candidate Connection
 
5.6
 
2,785

Total votes: 49,867
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.

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2020

See also: Mississippi's 3rd Congressional District election, 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House Mississippi District 3

Incumbent Michael Guest defeated Dorothy Benford in the general election for U.S. House Mississippi District 3 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Michael Guest
Michael Guest (R)
 
64.7
 
221,064
Dorothy Benford (D)
 
35.3
 
120,782

Total votes: 341,846
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.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Mississippi District 3

Dorothy Benford defeated Katelyn Lee in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Mississippi District 3 on March 10, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Dorothy Benford
 
64.0
 
38,967
Image of Katelyn Lee
Katelyn Lee Candidate Connection
 
36.0
 
21,951

Total votes: 60,918
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.

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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Mississippi District 3

Incumbent Michael Guest defeated James Tulp in the Republican primary for U.S. House Mississippi District 3 on March 10, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Michael Guest
Michael Guest
 
89.8
 
67,269
Image of James Tulp
James Tulp Candidate Connection
 
10.2
 
7,618

Total votes: 74,887
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.



District analysis

This section will contain facts and figures related to this district's elections when those are available.

See also

Mississippi 2026 primaries 2026 U.S. Congress elections
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Ballot access

External links

Footnotes

  1. Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
  2. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
  3. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
  4. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018


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