Greg Davis, left, and Travis Childers
Democrat: Travis Childers (Incumbent)
Republican: Greg Davis (Mayor of Southaven)
Mississippi's first district is the very red northeastern corner of a very red state, electing Republicans to Congress every year since 1995. When conservative Democrat Travis Childers won a May 2008 special election to replace 13-year GOP congressman Roger Wicker (who was tapped to take over the Senate seat of the resigning Trent Lott), it was a sign of a very tough election season ahead for Republicans. Childers' opponent in the special election, Southaven Mayor Greg Davis, will be back to face him in November, and once again try to prove to voters that Childers is far more liberal than he claims, in a race that is expected to go down to the wire.
2004 Presidential Vote: 60% Bush, 40% Kerry
-James Downie and Marti Covington/Washington