Assistant District Attorney Marc Amos has dropped out of the 16th Circuit District Attorney’s race.
Amos told The Dispatch Tuesday morning that he decided to drop out earlier this month.
“I made the decision because I was running in case (incumbent Scott Colom) got confirmed (as a federal judge),” Amos said. “It’s no longer looking like he’ll be confirmed before the primary, so it was time for me to drop out.”
In November 2021, U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson (D, Mississippi) sent a letter to President Joe Biden recommending Colom as judge for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi. The seat became open after the Nov. 1, 2021, retirement of Judge Michael P. Mills, who presided over the U.S. District Court in Oxford.
Biden nominated Colom for the judgeship in October 2022, and in April 2023 Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith told the White House and Senate Judiciary Committee that she will not support Colom’s nomination to the bench.
That same month Biden said he still supported the nomination.
“I would have loved for (Colom) to have gotten confirmation by now,” Amos said. “It would’ve been good for him and his family.”
Amos said he gave written notice to the Mississippi Democratic Party that he was withdrawing earlier this month, so as to make sure he wasn’t still on the ballot.
“The ballot has already been sent to all the clerks, and I am officially not on it,” Amos said.
Amos’ withdrawal leaves Colom as the only Democratic candidate in the race. On the Republican side, Jase Dalrymple and Chuck Easley will face off in the Aug. 8 primary. The winner will face Colom in the Nov. 7 general election.
“The thing I’m going to do now is support Scott Colom,” Amos said. “I believe in what he’s doing.”
Colom, in a statement sent to The Dispatch via text message, said he appreciated Amos’ decision to drop out.
“(Amos) would have been a great district attorney,” Colom wrote. “He has the experience, intellect and integrity to get the job done. With the primary coming up, I appreciate his decision to drop out and support my campaign.”
Colom was elected in 2015.
The deadline to register to vote in the Aug. 8 primary election is Monday, July 10, by 5 p.m. Circuit clerks’ offices in Lowndes, Oktibbeha, Clay and Noxubee counties will be open on Saturday, July 8, from 8 a.m. until noon for voter registration.
Mail-in applications must be postmarked no later than July 10 to be accepted.
Brian Jones is the local government reporter for Columbus and Lowndes County.
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