Wicker, a Tupelo Republican will be attending the fair the weekend prior to the political speeches. He will be greeting fairgoers and going door to door to meet them. Wicker’s communications director Rick VanMeter said that Wicker was unable to speak due to his commitments to his committee and the votes in Washington, D.C. The annual political speakings attract most of the state’s officeholders. People campaigning for these offices also attract statewide media attention and coverage. The unusual situation of having two U.S. Senate election on the November ballot makes this year’s annual event particularly fascinating. A special election will be held to replace the long-serving Sen. Thad Cchran, who was forced to retire in March due to health reasons. Wicker’s Democratic opponent is state Rep. David Baria from Bay St. Louis. He will speak at 9:40 AM on Aug. 2. On Aug. 2, the candidates for the special election, Republicans Cindy Hyde Smith and state Senator Chris McDaniel, Ellisville, and Democrat Mike Espy, are all scheduled to speak. Gov. Phil Bryant will be acting as interim replacement. Espy, a former member of the U.S. House and served as the agriculture secretary under the Clinton administration, will be acting in an interim capacity. All candidates will be listed on the same ballot in the special election as the regular Nov. 6 general elections. People will likely pay close attention to potential candidates for governor, Attorney General Jim Hood (Democratic side) and Lieutenant Governor (Lt. Gov.) Tate Reeves is on the Republican side. Hood and Reeves will speak August 1 under the tin-roofed Founders Square Pavilion. In 2019, the gubernatorial and other elections for state offices will take place. Hood will speak at 10:20 a.m., followed by the outgoing U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper (Rankin County Republican), and then Reeves. A complete schedule of the political speakings can be found at http://www.neshobacountyfair.org/politics/.