Espy received the highest percentage of votes of any Democrat running statewide in a federal election since 1988. He filed a “statement to candidacy” on Friday with the Federal Election Commission for a second run in 2020. A FEC spokesperson explained that Espy will still have to contribute expenditures exceeding $5,000. He and any other candidates who are interested in running for the election will need to qualify at the state level, closer to 2020. Espy, a Democrat would file with state party. Brad Chism was a senior strategist in the Espy 2018 campaign. He said Friday that he couldn’t comment on future campaigns but that he was encouraged by Tuesday’s results. He believes that there is a movement and that Mississippi has brighter futures.” Hyde Smith, a Republican, was originally appointed to the post in April by Gov. After long-standing Sen. Thad Colchran retired for health reasons, Phil Bryant defeated Espy 54% to 46% in unofficial returns. The Secretary of State’s office is not likely to release the final numbers until December 7. After Hyde-Smith and Espy were the top vote-getters in Nov. 6, they advanced to a second round after neither received a majority vote. Espy, who turns 65 Friday, may have hinted in Tuesday’s concession speech that he might be considering running again. He stated, “Make no mistake, tonight is the beginning, and not the end. It is not a loss when this many people come out and stand up. It is a moment. It is a movement. We are not stopping moving our state forward because of one election. “I look forward to finding ways to do that.” This election was historic because Espy was trying to become the first African American to be elected to the U.S. Senate from Mississippi and Hyde Smith was trying to be elected the first woman from the state to that position. Cindy Hyde Smith defeats Mike Espy and becomes the first woman elected to Congress in Mississippi. This historic race received a lot of national attention. It was the only Senate race that was not decided on Nov. 6. In addition, Hyde-Smith’s controversial remarks drew additional attention to the contest. Hyde-Smith stated that she would sit in the front row for a public hanging if asked by a supporter. She also supported suppressing liberal votes at Mississippi universities. After making the comments, she eventually apologized and stated that she was laughing at them. In the Nov. 6 election, incumbent Republican Roger Wicker, of Tupelo, defeated state Rep. David Baria (D-Bay St. Louis), in a regular scheduled Senate election. This election saw a record turnout of approximately 950,000 Mississippi voters for a federal midterm election. For Tuesday’s runoff, more than 900,000. Espy generated more votes than he and Tobey Bartee, a Democrat from Gautier – a feat that was rare according to political pundits. The 2020 election contests will also include the office president, where Mississippi has more than 1.1million voters. Friday’s comment was not received by Espy.