Hopson won’t seek re-election to state Senate or run for Attorney General

Hopson won't seek re-election to.

Key points

• Elections Lindsay Whitehurst, Associated Press, Nicholas Riccardi, Associated Press August 25, 2026.
• The Senate Appropriations Committee chairman will be turning in his gavel in January 2028, deciding to step away from the Mississippi Legislature after five terms.
• Had Hopson entered the Attorney General's race, he would have been pitted against fellow Republican Sean Tindell, the current Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety.
• State Senator Briggs Hopson remarked Monday that he would not be running for statewide office in the 2027 election cycle.
• The Republican Senate Appropriations Committee chairman had been rumored to be on a short list of potential candidates considering a run for Attorney General next year.

Hopson won't seek re-election to state Senate or run for Attorney General. By: Frank Corder – September 8, 2026.

Meanwhile, the Senate Appropriations Committee chairman will be turning in his gavel in January 2028, deciding to step away from the Mississippi Legislature after five terms.

He will additionally not seek re-election to the Mississippi Senate District 23 seat that he has held for five terms.

Notably, the Republican Senate Appropriations Committee chairman had been rumored to be on a short list of potential candidates considering a run for Attorney General next year. The Attorney General seat is now an open seat after Lynn Fitch's unveiled gubernatorial bid.

"Over the last few weeks, I've had many encouraging conversations with friends and colleagues across Mississippi about a potential statewide run for office next year, " Hopson wrote on social media. "However, after serious consideration, Ali and I have decided that this is not the right time for us to undertake such a tremendous commitment."

Tindell, a former state senator himself as well as a former judge, confirmed his campaign to be Mississippi's chief legal and law enforcement officer in mid-August. Since his announcement, Tindell has picked up key endorsements from county sheriffs, district attorneys, police chiefs and others in the law enforcement community throughout the Magnolia State.

Hopson was viewed as one of the few who could offer Tindell a serious challenge, due to the state senator's network and his sizable campaign war chest of almost $1 million.

Regarding his decision to not run for Attorney General next year, Hopson remarked any successful candidate "must be 100% committed to the campaign, " and that was going to be impossible for him due to his obligations to his "legal clients who deserve my attention to their personal and business matters, my Senate constituents, and colleagues who trust me to oversee the Appropriations Committee."

"I take these obligations very seriously and feel they deserve my full focus, which would be nearly impossible if I were a statewide candidate, " Hopson remarked.

Hopson concluded his social media announcement by saying, "I greatly appreciate the encouragement and support I have received during this exploratory process, but I will not be a candidate for office in 2027."

He informed Magnolia Tribune early Tuesday morning it has been "a good 20 years (after next year)" and that he aims to look for opportunities to serve his community and Mississippi in other ways going forward. Hopson's current term ends in January 2028. Regarding the Author(s).

Frank Corder is a native of Pascagoula. For almost two decades, he has noted and offered analysis on administration, public policy, business and matters of faith. Frank's interviews, articles, and columns have been shared throughout Mississippi as well as in national publications. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, providing insight and commentary on the inner workings of the Magnolia State. Frank has served his community in both elected and appointed public office, hosted his own local radio and television programs, and managed private businesses all while being an engaged husband and father. Email Frank: [email protected].

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Taken together, the developments around hopson won’ t seek re-election to state Senate or run for Attorney General point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.