Erik Fleming
Encyclopedia
Erik Robert Fleming was a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives
representing the 72nd District (which includes parts of Hinds
and Madison
counties) from 1999 to 2008. He was the Democratic
nominee for one of the state's two U.S. Senate seats. He faced incumbent Republican
Thad Cochran
in the November 4, 2008 general election, and was defeated.
at Jackson State University
, became a brother of Alpha Phi Omega
while there, and graduated in 1987. Fleming worked with Mississippi Governor Ray Mabus
in his 1987 campaign and Mike Parker in his campaign for the U.S. Congress
in 1988.
Fleming is the father of one son, Sean Christopher. He is also the stepfather of two boys, Kenneth and James Brown. Fleming attends Epiphany (formerly St. Philip) Lutheran Church
and is a member of several organizations and boards, including the NAACP, the SCLC, the Mississippi Faith-Based Coalition for Community Renewal, the Mississippi Families for Kids, and the Jackson State University National Alumni Association.
in a January 1999 special election to finish the unexpired term of Tomie Green. He represented the 72nd District (which includes parts of Hinds
and Madison
counties) from 1999 to 2008. He was defeated in the 2007 primary by Kimberly Campbell, succeeded him in January 2008.
Fleming ran against incumbent U.S. Senator Trent Lott
in the November 2006 election. There were four candidates In the June 6, 2006 Democratic primary; top two finishers were Fleming, who received 44 percent, and Hickory Flat
business consultant Bill Bowlin, who received 22 percent. In the June 27 runoff between Fleming and Bowlin, Fleming received 65 percent. Fleming lost to Lott in the general election.
Fleming served as President of the Young Democrats of Mississippi (1991–92), Chair of the Hinds County Democratic Executive Committee (1996–99), National Committeeman of The Young Democrats of America (1993–95), and as campaign manager for the Henry J. Kirksey for Mayor Campaign (1993).
At one time Fleming expressed support for political activist Lyndon LaRouche
, but has denounced him several times since.
Currently, Fleming is unemployed. He worked previously as a paralegal for the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance, an abstinence educator with the Mississippi Community Development Corporation, a non-profit agency located in his legislative district. Fleming has also served as chief operating officer for New Horizon Ministries, Inc., a non-profit agency in Jackson
.
Fleming won the Mississippi primary for the Democratic Party nomination and then went on and faced Senator Thad Cochran
in Mississippi's November 2008 Senate election. Senator Cochran won by a landslide with over 61% of the vote and Fleming got only 38% of the vote.
Mississippi House of Representatives
The Mississippi House of Representatives is the lower house of the Mississippi Legislature, the lawmaking body of the U.S. state of Mississippi....
representing the 72nd District (which includes parts of Hinds
Hinds County, Mississippi
As of the census of 2000, there were 250,800 people, 91,030 households, and 62,355 families residing in the county. The population density was 288 people per square mile . There were 100,287 housing units at an average density of 115 per square mile...
and Madison
Madison County, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 74,674 people, 27,219 households, and 19,325 families residing in the county. The population density was 104 people per square mile . There were 28,781 housing units at an average density of 40 per square mile...
counties) from 1999 to 2008. He was the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nominee for one of the state's two U.S. Senate seats. He faced incumbent Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Thad Cochran
Thad Cochran
William Thad Cochran is the senior United States Senator from Mississippi and a member of the Republican Party. First elected to the Senate in 1978, he is the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and was its chairman and 2005 to 2007.-Early life:He was born in Pontotoc,...
in the November 4, 2008 general election, and was defeated.
Early and personal life
Fleming was born in Chicago, Illinois to Joan and Robert Fleming, and attended Lindblom Technical High School. He majored in political sciencePolitical science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at Jackson State University
Jackson State University
Jackson State University is a historically black university founded in 1877 in Natchez, MS by the American Baptist Home Mission Society of New York. The Society moved the school to Jackson in 1882, renaming it Jackson College, and developed its present campus in 1902. It became a state supported...
, became a brother of Alpha Phi Omega
Alpha Phi Omega
Alpha Phi Omega is the largest collegiate fraternity in the United States, with chapters at over 350 campuses, an active membership of approximately 17,000 students, and over 350,000 alumni members...
while there, and graduated in 1987. Fleming worked with Mississippi Governor Ray Mabus
Ray Mabus
Raymond Edwin "Ray" Mabus, Jr. is the 75th United States Secretary of the Navy. Mabus served as the 60th Governor of the U.S...
in his 1987 campaign and Mike Parker in his campaign for the U.S. Congress
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 1988.
Fleming is the father of one son, Sean Christopher. He is also the stepfather of two boys, Kenneth and James Brown. Fleming attends Epiphany (formerly St. Philip) Lutheran Church
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
and is a member of several organizations and boards, including the NAACP, the SCLC, the Mississippi Faith-Based Coalition for Community Renewal, the Mississippi Families for Kids, and the Jackson State University National Alumni Association.
Political career
Fleming was first elected to the Mississippi House of RepresentativesMississippi House of Representatives
The Mississippi House of Representatives is the lower house of the Mississippi Legislature, the lawmaking body of the U.S. state of Mississippi....
in a January 1999 special election to finish the unexpired term of Tomie Green. He represented the 72nd District (which includes parts of Hinds
Hinds County, Mississippi
As of the census of 2000, there were 250,800 people, 91,030 households, and 62,355 families residing in the county. The population density was 288 people per square mile . There were 100,287 housing units at an average density of 115 per square mile...
and Madison
Madison County, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 74,674 people, 27,219 households, and 19,325 families residing in the county. The population density was 104 people per square mile . There were 28,781 housing units at an average density of 40 per square mile...
counties) from 1999 to 2008. He was defeated in the 2007 primary by Kimberly Campbell, succeeded him in January 2008.
Fleming ran against incumbent U.S. Senator Trent Lott
Trent Lott
Chester Trent Lott, Sr. , is a former United States Senator from Mississippi and has served in numerous leadership positions in the House of Representatives and the Senate....
in the November 2006 election. There were four candidates In the June 6, 2006 Democratic primary; top two finishers were Fleming, who received 44 percent, and Hickory Flat
Hickory Flat, Mississippi
Hickory Flat is a town in Benton County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 565 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hickory Flat is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land....
business consultant Bill Bowlin, who received 22 percent. In the June 27 runoff between Fleming and Bowlin, Fleming received 65 percent. Fleming lost to Lott in the general election.
Fleming served as President of the Young Democrats of Mississippi (1991–92), Chair of the Hinds County Democratic Executive Committee (1996–99), National Committeeman of The Young Democrats of America (1993–95), and as campaign manager for the Henry J. Kirksey for Mayor Campaign (1993).
At one time Fleming expressed support for political activist Lyndon LaRouche
Lyndon LaRouche
Lyndon Hermyle LaRouche, Jr. is an American political activist and founder of a network of political committees, parties, and publications known collectively as the LaRouche movement...
, but has denounced him several times since.
Currently, Fleming is unemployed. He worked previously as a paralegal for the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance, an abstinence educator with the Mississippi Community Development Corporation, a non-profit agency located in his legislative district. Fleming has also served as chief operating officer for New Horizon Ministries, Inc., a non-profit agency in Jackson
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
.
Fleming won the Mississippi primary for the Democratic Party nomination and then went on and faced Senator Thad Cochran
Thad Cochran
William Thad Cochran is the senior United States Senator from Mississippi and a member of the Republican Party. First elected to the Senate in 1978, he is the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and was its chairman and 2005 to 2007.-Early life:He was born in Pontotoc,...
in Mississippi's November 2008 Senate election. Senator Cochran won by a landslide with over 61% of the vote and Fleming got only 38% of the vote.
External links
- Erik Fleming for U.S. Senate official campaign website
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.org