Full Transcript for State Election Thoughts with Jodie Brown Vice Chair of the MS Democratic Party

isn't that close. David Olds: our races. that closed. Gotcha. and you mentioned experience. Jodie Brown: Mm-hmm. David Olds: I understand and and tell me where I'm wrong that basically they're a credit bureau type Jodie Brown: Yes. Yes. Exactly. So there's all kinds of mistakes that could be there. Because for an example, let's just say David Olds: could be there. Jodie Brown: you go down to Best Buy and they ask you, hey David, you just you're about to purchase this computer or this television. If you apply for our credit card, you can get a ten percent discount on this two thousand dollar television. And you say, Yeah, sure. And you go to put in your they go to put in your address and the clerk accidentally puts in one two five main street and you live at one two nine Main Street, well that goes to the Credit Bureau. And it may be the wrong address there and there's really not a correction mechanism like the Postal Service has, for an example. So I mean a lot of people it's not unusual at all if you check these ratings and you see they have you listed as living places you've never even visited. They have you related to people. David Olds: for Jodie Brown: who are not related to you and people you've never met. I have a pretty common last name. So I I get all kinds of relatives pop up whenever I check some of these things. David Olds: these things. Got it. I also understand that Secretary of State Michael Watson used Experian Jodie Brown: Maybe I'd Well, it's it's sort of in the ballpark. We already had about a hundred and sixty thousand people who were inactive from the roles before Experian came in and then so we had many of the to those roles as inactive when Xperian David Olds: in the ballpark. Jodie Brown: was used. Now inactive is not removed completely from the roles, it's not purged, but you're listed as inactive, so you have to go back and you vote by affidavit. David Olds: by asked David. is Jodie Brown: To have your status restored. David Olds: restored. In in my small precinct, there would ha there happened to be a guy in front of me that had and he was a little confused about why he wasn't I mean he had his driver's license. He did not have his voter's registration card, but he had his had his ID and he was I won't say forced, but he was asked and he did fill out a provisional ballot or alpha Jodie Brown: That's a David. Mm-hmm. David Olds: ballot. So he did do that, but he was he was kind of surprised because he had voted in many elections, so he was kind of surprised at that. Jodie Brown: wasn't just the affidavit ballots. I got a lot of attention, but there are other problems that crop up in situations like this. things like polls move, or you have split precincts. You know, and just depending on the the attention and care of the poll workers, you may or may not be sent to the right place, or you they may just have you vote by affidavit ballot and It just it goes in. I've I've heard stories about people who are at Spret precincts

and all the pole worker had to do was say, Go across the hall to the other poll. David Olds: pole. Jodie Brown: But, it just it depends on the meticulous nature and the care of who's working at the polls. And I don't mean that as a a negative statement towards all poll workers because they do a very thankless job with David Olds: at the Jodie Brown: a with a very small reward. I mean, you know, they they I I'm not even sure if what they get paid comes up to Minimum wage. David Olds: minimum age. Yes. the last I heard in DeSota County pole workers were paid two hundred dollars. but basically that was a twelve a Jodie Brown: Twelve hour day. David Olds: hour day. Jodie Brown: Exactly. David Olds: you You weren't allowed there. So yes, train, Jodie Brown: And that doesn't even include having to train, so David Olds: so yes, yes. And so I know that you and you and I both appreciate all the po workers all over the state that spent their whole day doing the work that that they did and we all appreciate that. once again on on Scott Colom. I read it on Facebook, so but I think it's a good quote. It it said not enough there's not enough Democrats in Mississippi to have elected Scott Colom. there were many Republicans, you know. Who crossed over and voted for Scott Colom, a Democrat? What do you think about that? Jodie Brown: Well, I think that in the terms of Mississippi culture that makes sense. When you s when you explained it to people who are familiar with Mississippi voters, that does make sense. I think when you look at it in terms of how voters typically behave, probably not quite so accurate because one thing that we have to keep in mind with Mississippi voters is we have the most inelastic voters in the country. That means, you know, if you're a Republican you're you're hardcore Republican and it takes a lot to move you over to the Democrat. If you're a Democrat, you're a hardcore Democrat. It takes a lot to move you over to the Republicans and we don't have a whole lot of independence. But that is changing. So that that that makes sense in this election. It does. But at the same time I don't know that it's a completely hard and fast rule because we have more David Olds: lot of independence. Jodie Brown: and more independence growing. in Mississippi the same way we have independence growing across the country. So, a lot of it depending on how you define yourself as a Republican. Mississippi doesn't have official party registration. you and I both, even though we are active in the Democratic Party, David Olds: Republican. Jodie Brown: in next August we can walk in and vote in the Republican primary. David Olds: primary. Jodie Brown: n we don't have to switch anything. So a lot of it depends on how do you define yourself as a Republican. And here in Mississippi, unless you have a very a an official role within the party, you're not officially a member of either party. So I hope I'm not talking in circles around here, but a it it does make sense in

some ways, but in a in another ways when you consider how do we define people and and their beliefs, you know, it's it could fall along the lines of the rest of the country where most people think of themselves as a Republican leaning independent or a Democrat leaning independent. David Olds: independent. Gotcha. I I understand that because it's my understanding we when we go to register to vote, we do not have to declare a party. Jodie Brown: Exactly. David Olds: I I see where you're coming from. Jodie Brown: Exactly. David Olds: let's talk let's talk about this if if you could tell us a little bit about what was the voter turnout. I know that we've got eighty two counties. What do you know what the voter turnout was Jodie Brown: We had just just just a hair under a million people. So that was about I think it was nine hundred and seventy thousand people, which considering I think our state only has about three million adults maybe, that's pretty that's a pretty solid turnout. David Olds: under a million solid turnout. do you know how it compared to the last elections we had? What Jodie Brown: Well twenty right, twenty twenty two it we had an increase of at least two hundred thousand voters. So that was pretty significant. David Olds: voters. was reasonable. Yeah. so it's it's a fair statement to say voter turnout was high. Is that a fair statement? Absolutely. Jodie Brown: Absolutely. Absolutely an incredible increase. David Olds: increase. W what do you think resonated across the state with voters? What do you think were the were the pain points for the voters in Mississippi that got out to the to vote? protein. Jodie Brown: think the cost of living, what made Scott c what made Scott Cologne's campaign go from this is neat to hey this is this is something we can all understand and understand was the pick another protein. Right. You know, it's a political gafe if you will, but gaff but sh Cindy Hyde Smith makes has made statements like that before, you know, the whole I'd go to a public hanging and then she said something about she didn't want college students to vote because they vote liberal and things like that. She's she makes thoughtless statements. I won't say on a regular basis, but she's kind of known for them. But it didn't really bother people until she tried talked about the fact David Olds: statements. for them. Jodie Brown: that, you know, what hits your dinner table that impacts you, right? David Olds: table that income, right? Yeah, absolutely. Jodie Brown: You start talking about that, people start to wipe out. David Olds: quitecha, gotcha. tell me if I'm wrong with this, but I understand that Andrew Colom, which is Scott's twin brother, basically came up with the idea of pick another protein. Which is which I thought, you know, as a marketing guy, I thought that was just tremendous, you know. No, I'm gonna pick another senator instead of another protein. So Jodie Brown: Absolutely, that was great. And I read somewhere that Wilcalone said it they just had a wedding videographer film that commercial. So it wasn't like they brought a big production company down here to have it done. They just had a a wedding for s wedding videographer do that. David Olds: videographer do that. Jodie Brown: I've mentioned to several people just in casual conversations, different candidates and people like that. I said over the years was we've had Dilbert Hoseman sitting on the bench with the little old lady about twenty years ago. Some people may remember that. She's sitting on the bench and she it's kind of like a forest gump kinda kind of commercial. He's sitting on a bench and the there's a little older lady there and she's talking about Dilbert's gonna go to VR new Secretary of State. Dibbert's gonna help out the people of Mississippi. She kept mispronouncing his name and it was kitschy and funny and that sort of thing. And that's really the la until pick another protein, that was really the last really catchy ad we've had. But when it when something like that catches, it catches fire. I've heard there are people like in Paris screaming, pick another protein, San Francisco, if you go yell, pick another protein, people. David Olds: had. protein, Jodie Brown: Know what that is. David Olds: what that is. Well Mississippi sh did get the recognition, I will say that, and get got the attention of the nation, you know. so and it was shown Mississippi in a good light that you and I know the people in Mississippi. We know that they're good, we know that they're hard working, we know that they love their state. And I will say this, both on the on the the the the right and the left, we both love our state. I go back to Instagram, I go back to to Facebook. this is me and I'm not asking for your opinion. This is me kind of sharing my opinion. It it it appears that that once the election was called for Scott Colom, there was a lot of And I can say this, there was a lot of angry white men that posted their views on Facebook and s they one made the comment that the only people happy about this election, you know, results with Scott was the leftist progressives, which I I take great offense to, Jodie Brown: Yeah. David Olds: anyway, that's my soapbox, so I'm I'm off of it. but yeah, I think it was great and you know what what had happened some people may not be happy about the results, but I think that they should be happy that Mississippi made history and and I think that we're in we're in good shape. well let me ask you this as we kind of wind down, what What else is going on with the Mississippi Democratic Party that that you could share with us? Jodie Brown: Well, we just had our candidate summit today, which was really exciting. We had an opportunity for people who are interested in running for office, maybe some people who have already sort of soft launched a campaign, maybe people who have run for office before and are maybe thinking about upgrading to another office. We had those different

groups of people at C School of Law and we just we had a good event where they heard from the chairman. I went over some accountability things with our party, which is always a tough conversation, but it has to be had. we had a panel with several of the state legislators. So that was really exciting and enjoying I really enjoyed hearing what they had to say about what they'd like to accomplish in the next session. And of course we had really good conversations with them about Scott Cologne's race and some of the things you and I have talked about, like you know, using experience. David Olds: the state experience. Jodie Brown: Early voting. I I know one of the legislators from Jackson, her name's escaping my mind right now, but she said, Look, what what this eventually boiled essentially boiled down to was early voting. If we don't want to do this again, we'll change something about early voting. We'll we'll open up to early voting. So that was really good statement. And then of course, just you know it's great for people to get together and David Olds: voting. voting. Jodie Brown: them to meet other people who've run for office and other people who may be running for similar office because you know David, I mean we just got to fill every open seat next year, whether it's a legislative race, maybe it's a special race for a local race, the the eight state big offices, offices like transportation and public service commissioner. We need Democrats in all of those. You know, I remember when we were in some of our most difficult times of the Democratic Party and people were saying there will be no Democratic Party in Mississippi. It was kind of silly in a way because people still trusted Democrats in seats like public service commissioner and transportation commissioner. David Olds: commissioner. Jodie Brown: it's it's funny you can talk about things like abortion or same sex relationships or transgender people or something like that and people get all worked up. But when it comes to who's keeping your lights on, who's keeping the road safe, people still trust Democrats. David Olds: worked up. people still trust Democrats. Good. Thank you. And and I I agree with that and and yes early vi and and it's my understanding that that Mississippi is one of the few states that does not have early voting. one of the Jodie Brown: voting. David Olds: voting. Yeah. And early voting would be in my perception equally beneficial to both the Republicans and the Democrats. So Jodie Brown: It exactly. And it's it's really just a a false fear that the Republicans have put into people because when you go to vote earlier absentee, your ballot goes through the machine just like it does you know, they they set up a precinct, essentially what is a precinct inside your county courthouse, and all of those ballots, whether you voted absentee in person or by mail, Sorry, I just take that back. I know that in person, absentee voting, your your ballot goes through the machine just like everybody else's. So it's just it's just like when you go to vote, the only difference is somebody else is putting that into the through the machine for you. David Olds: everybody machine for you. Gotcha. Gotcha. And and yeah I would love to see it'd be a n national holiday when we vote. Jodie Brown: Absolutely. David Olds: let everybody it's it's a holiday and everybody can make it to the to the polls. And I know that they're open seven to seven, but still it it makes it difficult for some voters to get there. And Jodie Brown: Just if people don't think if people think that that's enough time, I would encourage them go to your local Walmart at nine o'clock at night and see how many people are scrambling to get eggs and milk and bread and all that. And you may have kids in pajamas there following you behind or sitting in the cart because you've been so busy with choir practice and soccer practice and parent teacher conference and then and that's not even in your eight hour work day. David Olds: work Jodie Brown: If anybody still works eight hours anymore. I know most people now are doing everything they can to make a living. So most of us don't work eight to four or nine to five. David Olds: or nine to five. I understood. Understood. And you know, so I think the for early voting and national holiday would be beneficial and all of that. Well, any last comments, any thoughts or anything anything else you want to Jodie Brown: Well, yeah, I would I would just say if you're a Democrat, please get involved and please really start looking at twenty twenty seven. you know, i I don't think Scott Colom is a unicorn. I think there are a lot of Democrats out there that who who have a really promising future in statewide offices, in local offices, and regional offices. You know, I think when we when I talked a few weeks ago, we talked about how I think the Republicans have comforted themselves in thinking that Brandon Presley's race in twenty twenty three was just this weird anomaly that everything has to come together for Democrats to hit those numbers. And that's just not true. I mean clearly we're a state with a large Republican voting population and David Olds: numbers. Jodie Brown: the the atmosphere does help us out. it we are helped out when there's a pro Democrat atmosphere across the country. But David Olds: atmosphere across the country. Jodie Brown: at the same time, it doesn't take the the a famous last name and a the right you know living in the right part of the state and holding the right previous office and that sort of thing. Yeah, anybody, I would say just anybody, but a good David Olds: of thing. Jodie Brown: politician has a chance of winning in Mississippi if you're a Democrat. a lot of people would have said the only thing that Brandon Presley had going was but was just that combination of the name. And he's not African American any in the previous offices that he held. Well here you have Scott Colom. He's African American. He doesn't have a nationally known name. He had a completely diff he held a completely different office from Brandon. He was in a somewhat different part of the state and and he won. David Olds: and he Jodie Brown: So that would go completely against that idea of just it needed this unicorn of a white democrat that comes from a right part of the state and has holds the right has the right policy platforms. Although I mean, you know, we want people who are good democrats, but we we don't all have to be on the same page about everything. David Olds: about everything. Absolutely and and Democrats you know we're known as the big tent party and and I I Jodie Brown: It's Exactly. And that that was one sor that was one thing I thought was really interesting that Scott I say interesting 'cause that doesn't sound like a very good word. I thought it was really creative that Scott did was he went up to that rally in Corinth with the Republicans. In fact even President Trump was complimenting on it. Yeah. He he's Scott was talking about, hey, look, I am not an anti second amendment person. Hey, look, I understand you're concerned about what gas costs. I understand you may be a truck driver and you're worried about what diesel costs. I understand you're worried about your child's education and are you gonna be left paying off student loans until you're seventy? David Olds: till you're seventy? Uh-huh. Absolutely. one of the things I heard at a Scott Colom rally, it was with President Clinton. And Brandon Presley was all was also there. And if I remember correctly, he said he lost, Brandon Presley lost the election by 17 votes per precinct. 17 votes per precinct. And now he may have s told us the number of precincts, I don't remember, but People really didn't we we knew it was a close race, but we did not know how close and seventeen votes per precinct made the difference in that. So well Jody, this has been a lot of fun. It's it's Jodie Brown: Yeah Yeah, sure. David Olds: appreciate everything that you're doing for the Democrats. Jodie Brown: we appreciate you and we appreciate Jim and everything your podcast does to help get out the message. David Olds: out message. Thank you. Thank you so much. And to our viewers, to our subscribers, we do appreciate it. We do want to hear from you. GM usually does a better job at asking for donations. so I will try to do that. Yes, Mississippi Happenings podcast needs donations. and yes, we need subscribers. So that helps our numbers grow up go up. And it gives us an opportunity to reach more people. Yes, this endeavor is funded by Jim, myself, and a couple other people, but we do need subscribers and we do need donations. And donations can be made at the dollar sign cash app, the dollar sign Mississippi Happenings, and at PayPal, which is the at sign Mississippi Happenings. and as always I do want to leave leave you with this. May we never become indifferent to the suffering of others. Thanks so much.