DEMOCRAT CLIFF JOHNSON RAISES SIX FIGURES IN Q1 OF 2026
For Immediate Release:
www.cliffjohnsonforcongress.com
Contact:
Jesse Edge
Jesse@cliffjohnsonforcongress.com
(662) 801-7510
Taylor, MS – Democrat Cliff Johnson raised over $100k in the first quarter of 2026, continuing to prove himself as a strong fundraiser. Cliff is the only candidate running a people-powered campaign — he is the only candidate to receive a majority of contributions from individuals and the only candidate to receive contributions from every county in the First District.
“The energy and momentum of this campaign reflect the voice of folks in the First District — they want someone who will go to Washington to fight for them,” said Cliff Johnson. “I’m so grateful for the support from the community members, volunteers, and supporters who are pouring their hearts into this campaign because they know that we deserve better than Trent Kelly.”
“As I’ve traveled throughout the district, folks keep telling me the same thing — they feel like Trent Kelly has totally forgotten about them. He has not been in their communities, or in our neighborhoods - he’s focused on his corporate donors and is ignoring the people he represents at a time when they’re struggling to put food on the table.
This quarter continues a trend of strong momentum for Cliff:
Primary Victory
Cliff overwhelmingly won the March 10th Democratic Primary election, thanks to the strong organization he’s been able to build on the ground. Turnout in three of the most populous counties in the district (DeSoto, Clay, and Lowndes) increased by 274%.
Fundraising
Last quarter, Cliff was one of only twenty candidates across the country to outraise the incumbent Republican. He continues to show that he is putting together a serious campaign that is capable of taking on Trent Kelly. Since announcing his candidacy, Cliff has received more than $350,000 from individual donors while Kelly has received just over $200,000 from individuals during that same period. Kelly continues to receive substantial contributions from corporate PACs.
Community Engagement
Since the start of the year, Cliff has attended dozens of events throughout the First District, meeting with voters at fish fries, festivals, church services, town halls, and concerts.
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Cliff Johnson lives in the Springdale Community of rural Lafayette County with his wife of 35 years, Leigh. They have a son and daughter-in-law in Memphis, and a daughter and son-in-law in Atlanta. His parents, Jim and Alice Johnson, reside in Oxford.
Cliff graduated from Mississippi College and attended law school at Columbia University in New York, where he served on the Columbia Human Rights Law Review and was named a Charles Evans Hughes Fellow for his demonstrated interest in public service.
Cliff has practiced law in Mississippi for 34 years. He served as an Assistant United States Attorney, co-founded a law firm in Jackson, and, for 12 years has been the director of the MacArthur Justice Center at the University of Mississippi School of Law where he advocates for reform of Mississippi’s criminal legal system and teaches civil rights law and litigation. He has been named a National Trial Lawyer of the Year by Public Justice and the Mississippi Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Mississippi Association for Justice.
