A few Republicans are getting a little antsy over when Gov. Phil Byrant will call a special election to fill the congressional seat held by the late-U.S. Rep. Alan Nunnelee. Several people have said Bryant was originally thinking of setting the election for Aug. 4, which coincides with primary elections for state races. That would make some fiscal sense in that it would save a little money holding all the elections at the same time. However, that idea is not being met with fanfare because more than one state elected official is looking at running for the seat. Nobody likes the idea of running for two offices simultaneously.
But then there is another caveat in state law that is complicating matters from a political perspective.
Under state law, if a party nominee is no longer able to run in the general election for “non-political reasons,” then the state party can appoint a substitute nominee. Being elected to another office in a special election does not meet the definition of “non-political.”
Full Article: Timing is everything in calling MS01 special election.