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Mississippi Could Move Primary To Form An SEC Super Presidential Primary

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Mississippi could join other states to form what some are calling a southern super presidential primary. Officials want to move Mississippi's primary up two weeks.

secretary of state Delbert Hosemann is working with several other southern states to have the entire region cast presidential primary ballots on the first Tuesday in March.

Hosemann says the plan would raise regional importance and force candidates to travel to Mississippi.

"With Georgia, and Tennessee and Arkansas and Louisiana we are putting together a group where we would have a super SEC Tuesday where basically the candidates would have to come through Mississippi before they got elected president of the United States. Both Democrats and Republicans," Hosemann said.

Hosemann says Mississippi's small population and late primary mean the state has previously been ignored by presidential candidates.

He says Banding together with other states is likely one of the only ways to change that.

Governor Phil Bryant supports the plan.

"Lots of times candidates fly over us to get to to somewhere else./ And you don't see them working it. They need to be here speaking to the people of the state of Mississippi. So I am all for it," Bryant said.

Legislation is expected to be filed in the upcoming legislative session to change state law and move the primary in time for the 20-16 presidential election.