State Rep. Jeffrey Hulum III announces run for congress

A Gulfport lawmaker is apparently throwing his hat in the ring for next year’s race in Mississippi’s fourth congressional district.

In a Facebook post on Monday, District 119 State Representative Jeffrey Hulum III announced his intention to run for the fourth district seat as a Democrat, currently held by incumbent Republican Representative Mike Ezell.

Hulum is an Army veteran and involved in many community initiatives in Gulfport and was first elected to the state House in a special election back in 2022.

At this time, Hulum will face Paul James Blackman in the Democratic primary for this race. Ezell faces a Republican primary challenge from Sawyer Walters as he seeks another third in the lower chamber in the 2026 midterms.