Mike Espy and Cindy-Hyde Smith of Mississippi will hold a debate at the Mississippi Farm Bureau ahead of a runoff vote for the Senate seat formerly held by Thad Cochran. Hyde-Smith, a former state agriculture director, was appointed to the seat earlier this year. The winner of the runoff will take the Senate seat for the remainder of Cochran’s term, two years. Espy is a former USDA Ag Secretary in the Clinton years, serving one year, before resigning over questions related to his use of government perks and gifts. Espy was indicted, but later acquitted of all charges. He has since practiced private law, including representing the National Black Farmers Association. Espy is the first African American U.S. ag secretary, and Hyde-Smith is the first female senator from Mississippi, as well as the first female ag director for the state. Smith won the most votes during the midterm elections, but did not get more than 50 percent of the vote, trigging the special election. The two will debate on November 20th. The runoff election is November 27th.
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