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PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Mississippi Sen. Brice Wiggins has become the sixth Republican to announce his intention to challenge U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo for the 4th Congressional District seat in 2022.

Wiggins, a Pascagoula Republican, has spent 10 years in the Mississippi Senate, where he has been a leading member of the coast legislative delegation in Jackson. He was an assistant district attorney for Jackson County prior to his election to the Senate in 2011.

While never mentioning Palazzo by name, Wiggins made it clear -- both in a campaign video released Monday and in an interview with The Mississippi Press -- its Palazzos perceived failure as a legislator and leader that has prompted Wiggins entry into the race.

I think the fact this many people (are in the race) is a statement on the representation we currently have, Wiggins told The Mississippi Press. Since being elected to the Senate, I havent had anyone run against me and I appreciate the faith the people have shown in me.

In addition to the now six Republicans who will challenge Palazzo in the Republican primary, three other candidates -- a Democrat, a Libertarian, and an Independent -- have also announced their candidacies, bringing the total field to 10.

Our current voice in D.C. has failed, Wiggins said in the campaign video. Ive got the experience and determination to get things done.

One of the other Republicans running is Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell. Wiggins and Ezell worked together in the district attorneys office when Wiggins was an assistant DA; Ezell an investigator.

Sheriff Ezell and I have known each other a long time, Wiggins said. Hes a good man and a good sheriff. But this (campaign) is a job interview. Ill put it this way, I have my own law firm and I have to hire people. You hire people based on their skill set. This is not a judiciary job, its a legislative job.

Wiggins was asked what makes him different from so many other politicians who are seemingly more concerned with their own reelection than being an advocate for their constituents.

He responded that his record in the state Senate should answer that. He was one of the architects of the DMR Accountability & Transparency Act in the wake of the Department of Marine Resources malfeasance scandal, as well as the Early Learning Collaborative Act. At the time, Mississippi was one of only 10 states without an early education program. Now it ranks in the top five nationwide.

I also fought to get $10 million for the Port of Pascagoula, Wiggins noted. I fought to keep the Gulf Coast Restoration Fund money here on the coast. I was also one of the lead authors of the bill that brought bond money to Ingalls Shipbuilding, which currently employs 12,000 people.

Im the first one to say its a team effort, but I can also say Ive spearheaded many of those things.

He also points to the lead role he played in passage of both the early education bill and the bill which resulted in the changing of the Mississippi state flag as evidence of his willingness to stand on principle rather than partisan politics.

There were members of my own party who fought me on the early education bill, he said. But it was the right thing to do. And the flag bill -- if my first concern was my own reelection, I wouldnt have been a leader on that.

But I was willing to step forward and lead and thats what Im willing to do in D.C.

Palazzo was first elected to Congress in 2010, defeating Democrat Gene Taylor. In March of this year, the Office of Congressional Ethics issued a report saying it found substantial reason to believe Palazzo abused his office by misspending campaign funds, doing favors for his brother and enlisting staff for political and personal errands. Palazzo declined to fully participate in the investigation.

Wiggins, meanwhile, has outlined his position on various issues facing the federal government on his website, http://www.bricewiggins.ms. Among them: a push for Congress to spend less, tax less; protecting fundamental rights; correcting foreign policy mistakes; forcing Congress to address immigration policy; and ensuring national security through a strong, yet efficient, military.

Together, we can fight corruption, help families and small businesses, fight for those less fortunate, including the unborn, take on the D.C. establishment and demand that our public officials serve us honorably, Wiggins said in his official campaign announcement. Conservative principles with better results.

In addition to Wiggins and Ezell, other Republicans challenging for the seat are Carl Boyanton, Raymond Brooks, Louis Charles Hook and Clay Wagner, along with Democrat David Seller, Libertarian Alden Johnson and independent Jesse Graham Hudson.

Mississippis 4th Congressional District encompasses all of 13 counties in south Mississippi and part of another. Party primaries are set for June 7, 2022, with runoffs, if necessary, on June 28.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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After 10 years in state senate, Brice Wiggins ready to take on Palazzo, others for congressional seat - gulflive.com