01/02/2008
Following the resignation of U.S. Sen. Trent Lott, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour named Roger Wicker, one of the state's four congressmen, to replace him. Sworn in on Monday, Dec. 31, Wicker will serve until a special election in November to fill out the remainder of Lott's six-year term.
Wicker has been a consistent ally of small business during his time as a Congressman, earning the NFIB Guardian of Small Business Award in each of his six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was a powerful ally for small businesses and all of Mississippi as a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. Wicker resigned from the U.S. House of Representatives, which will mean that voters will replace Wicker in a special election to be held in April.
There will likely be a competitive election to replace Wicker in the House, as northeast Mississippi has long been a swing part of the state. In addition, Wicker is likely to face a strong challenge in November. Former Governors Ronnie Musgrove and Ray Mabus have both been rumored as challengers to Wicker.
