Jackson Free Press

U.S. Senate

Travis Childers: Travis Childers, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, served the U.S. House of Representatives for the 1st Congressional District from 2008 to 2011. While Childers, a conservative-leaning Democrat from Booneville, Miss., touts his pro-gun and pro-life voting record, he also advocates for the expansion of Medicaid to Mississippi citizens. He owns a real estate firm in Northeast Mississippi called Childers Realty and Associates and a personal care home. Childers received his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Mississippi in 1980.

Thad Cochran: Incumbent Thad Cochran has served in the United States Senate for 36 years and is the ranking Republican of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Cochran was elected a U.S. congressman for the 4th District in 1972 where he served until being elected to the Senate in 1978. Cochran, who is originally from Pontotoc, Miss., earned a bachelor's degree with a major in psychology and a minor in political science from the University of Mississippi in 1959 and his law degree from University of Mississippi School of Law in 1965.

Shawn O'Hara: Shawn O'Hara, the Reform Party candidate for U.S. Senate, has represented the Reform Party in a number of Mississippi elections. O'Hara, a self-employed motion-picture and business consultant, has run for governor on five different occasions since 1991. He has also run for treasurer and mayor of Hattiesburg. O'Hara has a bachelor's of science, a bachelor's of arts, and two master's degrees from William Carey University.

U.S. House of Representatives, 2nd Congressional District

Bennie G. Thompson: Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Democrat who represents the 2nd district of Mississippi in the U.S. House of Representatives, has served in community politics since 1968. He has held his current position as a representative since 1993. Before that, the Bolton native was a Hinds County supervisor. Thompson earned his bachelor's in political science from Tougaloo College and his master's in educational administration from Jackson State University.

Troy Ray: Troy Ray, a motorcycle mechanic in West, Miss., and author of "I Can Rebuild America," is running as an Independent for the 2nd district of Mississippi U.S. House of Representatives. Ray, who was born in Memphis, has spent most of his professional life doing consulting and auditing work for businesses. He attended college at University of Houston, Texas A&M, and received his bachelor's in accounting in 1991 at Mississippi State University, where he also worked on a master's in economics.

Shelley Shoemake: Shelley Shoemake, who is running for the Reform Party on the 2nd district of Mississippi U.S. House of Representatives ticket, is a chiropractor and Mississippi native.

U.S. House of Representatives, 3rd Congressional District

Gregg Harper: The incumbent U.S. House of Representatives for the 3rd Congressional District has served in Congress since 2008. Before he was elected, he practiced law in Brandon and Richland. Harper has placed an emphasis on American-made energy during his time as a politician. He studied chemistry and received his bachelor's in chemistry from Mississippi College before getting his law degree from University of Mississippi School of Law in 1981.

Douglas MacArthur Magee: Doug Magee, a trial lawyer with Magee Law Firm, is running as a Democrat for U.S. House of Representatives for the 3rd Congressional District. Magee, from Mendenhall, Miss., studied law at the University of Mississippi School of Law.

Roger Gerrard: Roger Gerrard, a civil engineer and retired Army and Air Force Inspector General, is the Independent candidate for U.S. House of Representatives for the 3rd Congressional District.

Barbara Dale Washer: Barbara Dale Washer is the Reform candidate for U.S. House of Representatives for the 3rd Congressional District. Washer, a retired school teacher, ran for Mississippi's 1st Congressional District in 2004 and 2010 and Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance in 2011. She received her bachelor's after double majoring in secondary English and secondary education with a minor in social studies and Spanish from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1984.

Compiled by Anna Wolfe