Cliff
Johnson
Civil rights attorney Cliff Johnson is the 2026 Democratic challenger for Mississippi's 1st Congressional District seat.
- sources
- 10
- positions
- 10
- endorsements
- 11
Background
Cliff Johnson is the 2026 Democratic candidate for Mississippi's 1st Congressional District, challenging Republican incumbent Trent Kelly in the November 3, 2026 general election. He is a fifth-generation Mississippian who lives in the Springdale community of rural Lafayette County. [2, 4]
Johnson is a civil rights attorney and director of the MacArthur Justice Center at the University of Mississippi School of Law, where he also teaches and supervises students working on the Center's litigation and advocacy. He graduated from Mississippi College and Columbia University School of Law. [2, 4]
Before running for Congress — his first campaign for public office — Johnson served as an assistant U.S. attorney during the Clinton administration and founded a law firm that represented workers and handled whistleblower cases. [2, 4, 8]
Johnson received endorsements from Democratic Party figures in Mississippi and won the Democratic primary in March 2026. His campaign has focused on themes of transparency and accountability. [1, 9, 6]
At a glance
- Party
- Democrat
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 1, Mississippi
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Director, MacArthur Justice Center at the University of Mississippi School of Law
- Website
- cliffjohnsonforcongress.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 5newsJohnson identified as candidate on Nov. 3 ballot alongside Kelly and Baucom
A Mississippi Free Press candidate guide identified Cliff Johnson (D), incumbent Trent Kelly (R), and Libertarian Johnny Baucom as the three candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot for Mississippi's 1st Congressional District.
Meet the Candidates for Mississippi's First House District · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 5newsMississippi voter registration deadline passes
Mississippi's general-election voter registration deadline of Oct. 5 passed, closing the window for new voters to register ahead of the Nov. 3 election in which Johnson is a candidate.
Oct. 5 Voter Registration Deadline Nears in Tippah, Benton | Tippah News · Sep 27, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 1newsJohnson attends state redistricting hearing in Jackson
Johnson attended a state redistricting hearing in Jackson. He was reported as viewing the hearing as evidence that Mississippians did not want a redistricting process that inflamed racial and partisan divisions.
At first redistricting hearing, Mississippians call push for new maps a ‘power grab’ · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 25newsVoter registration booth operated at Oxford rally ahead of Oct. 5 deadline
College Democrats volunteers operated a voter registration booth at the rally and delivered completed paperwork to the clerk's office, highlighting the Oct. 5 registration deadline.
Scott Colom and Cliff Johnson joint campaign rally ... · Sep 28, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 25newsJohnson and Colom hold 'Our Mississippi. Our Future' joint rally in Oxford
Johnson and Democratic Senate candidate Scott Colom held a joint rally at The Lyric in Oxford. Johnson backed raising the minimum wage to around $15 an hour and called data centers a major issue for the district.
Scott Colom and Cliff Johnson joint campaign rally ... · Sep 28, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jun 30filingJohnson campaign finance totals reported through June 30 FEC filing cutoff
FEC filings show Johnson's campaign raised $551,243, spent $401,599, and held $149,645 cash on hand through June 30, 2026.
Mississippi's 1st District Race 2026: Who's Running (MS-1) · Oct 3, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Jamie Barnett, retired Rear Admiral otherRetired Rear Admiral; listed on the campaign endorsement page updated October 1, 2026. cliffjohnsonforcongress.com
- Dianne Black, former Democratic congressional nominee otherFormer Democratic congressional nominee; listed on the campaign endorsement page updated October 1, 2026. cliffjohnsonforcongress.com
- Theresa Gillespie-Isom, State Senator officialListed on the campaign endorsement page updated October 1, 2026. cliffjohnsonforcongress.com
- Stephen Jones, Columbus Mayor officialListed on the campaign endorsement page updated October 1, 2026. cliffjohnsonforcongress.com
- Jimmy Stokes, Horn Lake Mayor officialListed on the campaign endorsement page updated October 1, 2026. cliffjohnsonforcongress.com
- Leroy Brooks, Lowndes County Supervisor officialListed on the campaign endorsement page updated October 1, 2026. cliffjohnsonforcongress.com
- Ronnie Musgrove, former Governor officialFormer Governor; listed on the campaign endorsement page updated October 1, 2026. cliffjohnsonforcongress.com
- Travis Childers, former Congressman officialFormer Congressman; listed on the campaign endorsement page updated October 1, 2026. cliffjohnsonforcongress.com
- John Grisham otherAuthor and public figure; listed on the campaign endorsement page updated October 1, 2026. cliffjohnsonforcongress.com
- Mississippi AFL-CIO unionEndorsement date of February 16, 2026 reported by a labor-education site. laboreducation.org · Feb 16, 2026
- Bennie Thompson, Congressman officialCongressman Bennie Thompson's support was highlighted by the campaign on January 12, 2026, and also listed on the campaign endorsement page updated October 1, 2026. cliffjohnsonforcongress.com · Jan 12, 2026
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $551K
- Spent
- $402K
- Cash on hand
- $150K
As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6MS01313(opens in a new tab)
Sources 10
- [1] At first redistricting hearing, Mississippians call push for new maps a ‘power grab’(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [2] Meet the Candidates for Mississippi's First House District(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
- [3] Cliff Johnson — official campaign website(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
- [4] Mississippi's 1st District Race 2026: Who's Running (MS-1)(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
- [5] Endorsements(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2026
- [6] Scott Colom and Cliff Johnson joint campaign rally ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 28, 2026
- [7] Oct. 5 Voter Registration Deadline Nears in Tippah, Benton | Tippah News(opens in a new tab) Sep 27, 2026
- [8] Union Strong- Labor Education App(opens in a new tab) Sep 5, 2026
- [9] Johnson, Baucom hope to unseat heavily favored incumbent Kelly in ...(opens in a new tab) Aug 26, 2026
- [10] Cliff Johnson campaigns for transparency and accountability(opens in a new tab) Apr 29, 2026