Cliff Johnson
MS-01 Democratic nominee?
$2.5K
MAR 17, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleCivil rights attorney
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
LocationMississippi
BackgroundCivil rights attorney
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EducationMississippi College — B.A. Political Science (1989)
Notable personal detailsJames Clifton (“Cliff”) Johnson II is a civil rights attorney and clinical professor of law at the University of Mississippi School of Law, where he directs the MacArthur Justice Center. He previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of Mississippi and worked in private practice in Jackson, including as a founding partner at Pigott & Johnson, P.A. He earned a B.A. in Political Science from Mississippi College and a J.D. from Columbia Law School.
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Positions
Economy & Taxes
Opposes tax cuts that benefit the wealthy and emphasizes protecting health care and supporting middle- and working-class families; frames corporate profits and inadequate support for working families as problems to address through federal policy.
Healthcare
Supports expanding access to affordable health care and protecting Affordable Care Act subsidies to keep coverage affordable for residents of Mississippi. Opposes cuts that would strip health-care support from families and emphasizes government action to increase access to care.
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Immigration & Border
Cliff Johnson has criticized aggressive ICE raids in Mississippi, advocated against criminal prosecutions of low-level immigrant workers, and requested temporary work authorization for those detained while their immigration cases proceed. He emphasizes the humanitarian impacts of enforcement and describes immigrant workers as hardworking community members. His public record focuses on protecting immigrants from harsh enforcement and seeking humane remedies rather than expanded border enforcement measures.
News
Cliff Johnson is in the news because of Mississippi’s 2026 primary election results. The provided summary does not say what race he was in or how he performed. Overall, the update is sparse and only confirms that the primary took place and results are being finalized.
Endorsements
Endorsers of Cliff Johnson for MS-01 Democratic nominee?
Ret. Rear Admiral Jamie Barnett
Public endorsement
Ret. Rear Admiral Jamie Barnett endorsed Cliff Johnson for Congress.
State Sen. Theresa Gillespie-Isom
Public endorsement
State Sen. Theresa Gillespie-Isom endorsed Cliff Johnson for Congress.
Columbus Mayor Stephen Jones
Elected official
Columbus Mayor Stephen Jones endorsed Cliff Johnson for Congress.
Indivisible DeSoto MS
Public endorsement
Indivisible DeSoto MS endorsed Cliff Johnson ahead of the primary.
Key County Democrats
Political organization
Key County Democrats endorsed Cliff Johnson in his campaign for Mississippi's First Congressional District.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262026
LatestCycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls