On Thursday, Earle Banks, a long-serving state representative, entered into a contentious race to be the Mississippi Democratic Party’s chairmanship. The party cancelled a Thursday night teleconference meeting to elect new officers due to Banks’s entry and possibly other candidates for the chairmanship. Banks, who is said to have been suffering from COVID-19, recently sent a message to the committee telling them that he was “on the mend” and would be able to run for the office. Banks, a 28-year-old veteran lawmaker, has been the vice chairman or second in command of the state Democratic Party since 2016. He said that it was not the right time to return to the leadership of the past. The time has come for the Mississippi Democratic Party’s leadership to be proven. Banks’ entry comes as Tyree Irving, a long-serving judge at the state Appeals Court, challenges party Chairman Bobby Moak who has held that position since 2016. Moak and Banks have served together for the past four years together as party leaders. Banks was a long-standing lawmaker who also served as a member of the state House where Moak was the minority leader. READ MORE: Mississippi Today has learned that forty-five members of the newly elected executive committee of the Mississippi Democratic Party have pledged their support for Irving. Eight more have also told Mississippi Today they will vote for Irving. Many Democratic leaders and candidates have lamented a lack leadership and support for candidates in the party, especially after the party’s poor showing in the 2019 statewide elections. Republicans won all the statewide offices last ye, consolidating supermajority control over the state Legislature and increasing local down-ticket wins. Moak and other party leaders have been criticized by some party elders for not focusing resources on Black candidates. This is despite the fact that white voters are leaving the party in large numbers and Black voters making up a significant portion of the party’s base. Moak and the last six Democratic Party chairsmen have all been white. Irving and Banks were both black. Moak, for his part, recently stated that the party had provided much organized support to candidates in the most recent election cycles, created unprecedented social media outreach, and had great fundraising success under his leadership. Irving and others accuse Moak of delaying an election for the leadership after the new committee was elected in May. Irving supporters demanded a special meeting to be called under a provision of the party’s constitution. After that meeting, Moak called one on Thursday night. Moak sent out a message on Thursday to members of the committee stating that the Thursday meeting had been canceled “Due to at least three candidates for office that i have seen today and acknowledging the concerns many have for that meeting this evening.” He also said that the Saturday special meeting would be held as planned. Moak also provided results from an “independent and in-depth analysis” of the MS Democratic Party. He stated that it showed “many highlights to celebrate — such as our current staff’s work, strong finances, and strong leadership.”