Special to the Democrat

Former State Senator Melanie Sojourner announced today that she will be running for Mississippi Senate District 37, soon to be vacated by Democrat Senator Bob Dearing’s retirement.

“I’ve always championed a strong Republican platform and was elected by the people in district 37 because I’m committed to Republican ideals, so it will be an honor to continue working to give the voters of Southwest Mississippi a Republican voice in our State Senate,” Sojourner said.

“Together we worked to improve the oil and gas industry, recruit jobs, cut wasteful spending, protect the Second Amendment, cut burdensome regulations on small businesses and protect our students’ religious liberties. It’s time to finish the work we started,” Sojourner said. “That is why today I am announcing my candidacy for Senate District 37.”

Sojourner is seeking to be re-elected to the Senate after she previously became the first Republican to hold the seat in modern history when elected in 2011. The seat covers Adams, Amite, Franklin and Pike counties.

While serving in the Senate, Sojourner was twice awarded the American Conservative Union Award for Conservative Excellence, named Legislator of the Year by the Mississippi Tourism Association, received an A+ rating from the Mississippi Business and Industry PAC, A+ rating from NRA and A+ rating from Empower Mississippi on education policy.

Sojourner is a cattle producer and comes from a six generation family farming operation at Oakwood Plantation in southeast Adams County.

She has two children and is a member of First Baptist Church of Natchez.