Mississippi voters to decide whether to send longtime Rep. Thompson back to Washington

Mississippi voters on Tuesday are deciding between longtime U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson and his 34-year-old Democratic primary challenger

JACKSON, Miss. -- Mississippi Democrats on Tuesday will decide between longtime U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson and his 34-year-old primary challenger in a race that reflects generational struggle for control of the party.

Thompson, a 78-year-old civil rights leader who chaired the House Jan. 6 Committee and serves as a ranking member on the House Homeland Security Committee, has held his seat for more than three decades. He is running against Evan Turnage, an antitrust lawyer who previously worked for top Democrats in Washington, and Pertis Herman Williams III, who has called for a new era of leadership.

Turnage is part of a wave of young Democrats who are hoping to oust older incumbents and usher in a new era. He has staked his candidacy on a message of economic populism and cast himself as a leader capable of understanding and regulating Big Tech and artificial intelligence.

Turnage faces an uphill battle against Thompson, who has more than $1.5 million in his bank account. Since mid-December, Turnage's campaign has raised just over $200,000 and has a little under $40,000 left to spend.

Posing an additional challenge is Thompson's incumbency advantage.