Meridian is the eighth most populous city in the U.S. state of Mississippi,with a population of 35,052 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Lauderdale County and the principal city of the Meridian,Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area. Along major highways,the city is 93 mi (150 km) east of Jackson;154 mi (248 km) southwest of Birmingham,Alabama;202 mi (325 km) northeast of New Orleans,Louisiana;and 231 mi (372 km) southeast of Memphis,Tennessee.
Mark Eugene Amodei is an American lawyer and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Nevada's 2nd congressional district since 2011. The only Republican in Nevada's congressional delegation since 2019,Amodei served in the Nevada Assembly from 1997 to 1999 and in the Nevada Senate,representing the Capital District,from 1999 to 2011.
Cam Ward is an American politician who served as a Republican member of the Alabama Senate,representing District 14 from 2010 to 2020. He previously represented District 49 of the Alabama House of Representatives from 2002 to 2010.
The Meridian race riot of 1871 was a race riot in Meridian,Mississippi in March 1871. It followed the arrest of freedmen accused of inciting riot in a downtown fire,and blacks' organizing for self-defense. Although the local Ku Klux Klan (KKK) chapter had attacked freedmen since the end of the Civil War,generally without punishment,the first local arrest under the 1870 act to suppress the Klan was of a freedman. This angered the black community. During the trial of black leaders,the presiding judge was shot in the courtroom,and a gunfight erupted that killed several people. In the ensuing mob violence,whites killed as many as 30 blacks over the next few days. Democrats drove the Republican mayor from office,and no person was charged or tried in the freedmen's deaths.
Percy Bland is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who served as the mayor of Meridian,Mississippi from 2013 to 2021. Bland was the first African American Mayor of Meridian MS and is known for the transformation of Downtown Meridian.
Tyler Ryan Russell is a former American football quarterback. He had played college football from 2010 to 2013 for Mississippi State University,where he placed fifth on the Bulldogs' career passing list with 5,441 passing yards,and third on the career passing touchdowns list with 42.
Charles Lemuel Young Jr. is an American politician. He is a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from the 82nd District,being first elected in 2011. His district represents Lauderdale County including the city of Meridian. He is a member of the Democratic party.
Terry Clark Burton is an American politician. He is a Republican and former Senator,representing District 31. He also served as President Pro Tempore. He was arrested for drunk driving and did not file for reelection to the Senate.
Leonard Steven Grasz is an American attorney and jurist serving as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
The 2021 Virginia gubernatorial election was held on November 2,2021,to elect the next governor of Virginia. The election was concurrent with other elections for Virginia state offices. Incumbent Democratic governor Ralph Northam was ineligible to run for re-election,as the Constitution of Virginia prohibits governors from serving consecutive terms. Businessman Glenn Youngkin won the Republican nomination at the party's May 8 convention,which was held in 37 polling locations across the state,and was officially declared the nominee on May 10. The Democratic Party held its primary election on June 8,which former governor Terry McAuliffe easily won.
Kristi Erin Haskins Johnson is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi and former solicitor general of Mississippi.
Jeff Tate is an American politician. He is a Republican who represents District 33 in the Mississippi State Senate.
Daniel H. Sparks is an American politician and attorney who has served in the Mississippi State Senate from the 5th district since 2020.
Michael James Thompson is an American politician serving in the Mississippi State Senate from the 48th district since 2020.
Jeremy Thomas England is an American politician serving in the Mississippi State Senate from the 51st district since 2020.
Shanda M. Yates is an American politician,representing the 64th district in the Mississippi House of Representatives since 2020. She is an Independent.
Ryan Martinez is an American politician who served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 39th District from 2016 through his resignation in 2023. An influential member during his tenure,Martinez resigned after charges for driving under the influence generated a political scandal and a lawsuit seeking his removal from office.
Jansen Tosh Owen is an American attorney and politician,representing the 106th district in the Mississippi House of Representatives since 2020.
Christopher Wayne Toney is an American politician who has served as a Delegate from the 31st District to the West Virginia House of Delegates since 2018. He is a Republican.
Billy Adam Calvert is an American politician and businessman serving as a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from the 83rd district. Elected in November 2019,he assumed office on January 7,2020.
