Even the people who voted for Vice President Kamala Harris last week were voting for change.
So what really changed around here after the surprise Coahoma County voters got when they woke up Wednesday and found out Donald Trump had been elected?
There was lots of news this past week in Clarksdale but not much change.
Clarksdale had a shooting Sunday night, The city presented their comprehensive plan once again Monday, and our hospital got $1 million donated for pre- and post-natal care. And while Wall Street had a banner day following the election, not much changed on Main Street.
So what does the future look like for most of us?
Political Plums
We have heard through the political grapevine that Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith will not accept the Secretary of Agriculture post that was whispered prior to the election.
Senator Hyde-Smith has been an avid Trump supporter. We have seen Trump reward his supports with key cabinet and staff appointments this week.
So we will not have the political shuffle many Mississippi news outlets speculated on last week.
I have heard a Mississippian might be in line for the Secretary of Agriculture spot. It would be a sweet political plum for the Magnolia State if it happens.
It’s a long shot. Keep reading your Clarksdale Press Register.
Exit Polls
It was reported that exit polls from CNN and other news outlets found 72-percent of those who voted for Trump last week said they were Christians.
Now I want to be clear some Democrats are Christian. The question posed to those who had voted last week was “do you profess to be a Christian?”
The Pew Research Center found in June 2016 that while 78% of self-identified white evangelical voters planned to vote for Trump, 45% were mainly voting against Hillary Clinton and only 30% were voting for Trump himself.
A Pew Research Center poll in early September of 2024 found 82% of White Evangelical Protestants were voting for Trump, 61% of White Catholics and 58% of White non-evangelical Protestants supported Trump.
That same poll said Vice President Kamala Harris had 86% of Black Protestant votes, 85% of atheists, 78% of agnostics, 65% of Hispanic Catholics and 65% of Jewish voters.
I question some of those numbers, but I don’t question the Nov. 5 mandate that people want a normal world where traditional values carry political weight.
To my Christian brothers and sisters I say; if you’re going to profess to be a Christian, act like it.
I will also point out the Clarksdale Press Register is not your Bible. I do encourage you to read both.
The Future
So when do we get to vote again?
According to a story on Page One of today’s paper we have a school board runoff on Nov. 26.
I sat with a group of people prior to last week’s election and most of them did not know we were having county school board elections or who was running.
People also asked me when do we get to vote on city school board members? I pointed out city school board members are appointed by our Board of Mayor and Commissioners.
Candidates for the Board of Mayor and Commissioners qualify from Jan. 2 to Jan. 31, 2025. City primary elections are Tuesday, April 1 and the general election is June 3. Winners take office on July 1.
Chuck Espy said again Monday he will not run for a third term. I think that is wise. We’ll see who runs for his overpriced salary.
There is a story on the Clarksdale Press Register website that Mississippi State is offering a virtual workshop for aspiring municipal candidates. The workshop explains the responsibilities of elected officials, key functions of municipal government and legal requirements for running for municipal office.
Did you know there is only one political office in Mississippi where you have to take a test to hold that office?
I will give $5 to the first five people who tell me what office that is.
Keep reading your Clarksdale Press Register.
Floyd Ingram is the Editor of your Clarksdale Press Register. He wants to clarify the answer to above question cannot be given by one of his coffee club members and the other four at the table chime in and want my money! Normal people can call Floyd at 662-627-2201 with their answer.
