David Baria, the state house minority leader, qualified for the ballot on Wednesday, after submitting the necessary paperwork. | Rogelio V. Solis/AP Photo Democrat David Baria enters Senate race in Mississippi

Republicans have two candidates running against each other for Senate in Mississippi. Now Democrats have one to face whoever emerges.

David Baria, the state house minority leader, qualified for the ballot on Wednesday, after submitting the necessary paperwork.


“I want to give voters a true choice, and I plan to spend the campaign listening to voters and working hard to earn their trust,” Baria said.

Baria got into the race the day after Chris McDaniel, a Mississippi state senator, announced a primary challenge to incumbent Sen. Roger Wicker, and after Brandon Presley, a state public service commissioner whom national Democrats had been eyeing for the race, reiterated that he wouldn’t run.

The day after Doug Jones won in Alabama in December, the chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) pledged to have a candidate in every race. Mississippi had been the only remaining hole for Democrats.

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There has been some talk locally and in Washington about other Democrats potentially jumping in, but they’re running out of time: The filing deadline is Thursday.

Baria said he missed a call from Van Hollen, and so far has not heard from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

The DSCC did not comment on Baria’s entry into the race.

