Freshmen Lawmakers Reflect on First Half of Mississippi Legislative Session
Mississippi’s freshman lawmakers are halfway through their first legislative session, and are beginning to understand the importance of relationships in the Capitol, according to a report from Mississippi Today.
Sens. Kamesha Mumford of Jackson and Justin Pope of Pope shared their insights and experiences as new legislators. Both emphasized that successful legislating centers around building connections with colleagues.
The first week of the legislative session saw 32 new lawmakers sworn in – seven in the Senate and 25 in the House. Representatives Justis Gibbs and Zachary Grady, also freshmen, described their initial experiences as exciting and a demonstration of trust from their constituents.
Despite some disruptions, including bomb threats at the State Capitol and the Mississippi Supreme Court building on consecutive days, lawmakers remained focused on their work. According to Representative Gibbs, the speaker had scheduled sessions in the afternoon on the days the threats occurred, allowing business to continue as planned.
Representative Gibbs and Representative Grady both highlighted key issues they hope to address during the session. Gibbs mentioned workforce development and expanding Medicaid coverage, while Grady expressed enthusiasm for working on these priorities as well.
Recently, the Mississippi House narrowly passed a major public-education overhaul centered on school choice after four hours of debate. This occurred on January 19, 2026, according to Mississippi Today.
Elsewhere, newly elected lawmakers in other states are also reflecting on their first sessions. In Minnesota, Representatives Huldah Momanyi-Hiltsley and Max Rymer discussed the delayed start to their legislative session and the time crunch to pass bills, as reported by MPR News in February 2025. A freshman GOP lawmaker in Congress, Gabe Evans, spoke with Fox News Digital in April 2025, detailing the success of the Republican conference in passing key legislation, including a reconciliation resolution and a continuing resolution to fund the government.
