State Sen. Charlie Ross announces run for 3rd District

Associated Press: "State Sen. Charlie Ross, who earlier this year ran an unsuccessful campaign for lieutenant governor, announced Wednesday that he would seek the 3rd District congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering, R-Miss. Ross said, if elected, he would work to ensure that the nation maintains a strong military and defend its borders against illegal immigration. Ross, R-Brandon, has been in the Senate 10 years after serving one year in the state House of Representatives. He won the House seat after Phil Bryant left the job when then-Gov. Kirk Fordice appointed Bryant as auditor. Bryant defeated Ross in the Republican primary for lieutenant governor in August. He joins a growing field of candidates for the 3rd District seat. Republicans David Landrum of Madison County, John Rounsaville of Madison and Gregg Harper of Pearl also said they will seek the seat. The qualifying deadline for congressional races is Jan. 11. The party primaries are March 11. In August, Pickering said he wouldn't seek a seventh two-year term in Congress."