Cochran Celebrates Tues. Night Senate Victory

Thad Cochran has been re-elected to a 7th term in the United States Senate and is now poised to become the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, one of the most powerful positions in the nation.

Wednesday, election results show Cochran defeated his Democrat challenger, Travis Childers, to 38%. It was a packed and excited room at the Children’s Museum in downtown Jackson as Senator Cochran, Governor Phil Bryant, and Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves all took the stage to announce that Cochran had been reelected for a 7th term in the United States Senate.

After an introduction from Governor Bryant, Cochran took to the podium to thank his supporters. Cochran says, “I’m honored also by the trust you all have placed in me.”

With Republicans now in control of the Senate, Cochran is set to Chair the Appropriations Committee, meaning Mississippi will have a prime opportunity to receive federal money. While a spokesperson for the Cochran campaign insists the conservative senator will chair the committee with fiscal responsibility, there is no denying when it comes to dishing out pork barrel spending, Mississippi will now enjoy a very prominent seat at the table. Cochran also says, “I want you to know I am committed to doing my best to represent Mississippi in the U.S. Senate and to reflect credit in my state.”

The senator also addressed the elephant in the room, the long campaign season and the bitter primary fight against the Tea Party supported candidate, Chris McDaniel. Cochran says, “As you all know, it’s been a long and interesting campaign. I’m glad it’s over and I know you are too.”

Many believe the primary battle between the Tea Party and the establishment has left deep fractures among Mississippi’s Republicans, but the leader of the state party, Governor Bryant, takes issue with this notion.

Bryant says, “Now we have heard that the Republican Party may be divided because people have different ideas. Good. There’s going to be differences and that’s human nature. So it really doesn’t worry me. I’ve been in this business long enough to know a certain amount of division is good for the party because you bring in different views and attitudes and that makes us a larger party.”

Senator Cochran now goes back to Washington D.C. to serve as one of the current longest serving senators. Cochran’s next term is scheduled to end in 2020, when he will be 83 years old. If he completes his term, the senator will become the fifth longest serving senator in the history of the United States Senate.