Nunnelee kicks off run for Congress

TUPELO — Republican Alan Nunnelee has formally announced his campaign for Congress in Mississippi’s First District, making stops Tupelo, Southaven and Columbus, The Associated Press reports.

The 52-year-old Nunnelee wants to run against U.S. Rep. Travis Childers, a Democrat who has held the First District position since winning a special election in 2008.

While never referring to Childers by name, Nunnelee, a state senator, criticized the congressman’s voting record as being too liberal for the people of north Mississippi.

The qualifying deadline is March 1. Party primaries are June 1 and the general election Nov. 2.

Mississippi’s First Congressional District covers a 23-county region of North Mississippi.

If elected, Nunnelee said he would vote against universal healthcare, tax increases and government bailouts.