Don Hartness
Don Hartness | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Mississippi State Senate from the 42nd district | |
Member | |
| Assumed office January 6, 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Robin Robinson |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Republican |
| Alma mater | Mississippi State University |
Don Hartness is an American politician who was elected as a member of the Mississippi State Senate for the 42nd district. A member of the Republican Party, Hartness was elected in a special election in 2025.[1][2]
Biography
Hartness is from Ellisville, Mississippi.[3] He went to Farragut High School in Knoxville, Tennessee and graduated from Mississippi State University.[2]
He is an Army veteran and a former president of a nonprofit veterans’ organization.[4] He is known as "The Flag Man," as he is often featured in news stories carrying the U.S. flag.[4][5] He retired from a career in sales.[2]
State senate
Hartness first ran for election in 2023 in the 42nd district, which was based in Jones County.[6] He lost narrowly to State Rep. Robin Robinson, who was considered the more moderate of the two.[7][8] Following court-ordered redistricting, he ran again in the 2025 special elections against Robinson, who was now the incumbent state senator. Hartness won in a landslide with over 70 percent of the vote. Analysts pointed to Robinson voting in favor of redistricting, which split up Jones County by placing Ellisville, home to previous state senator and far-right firebrand Chris McDaniel, in the nearby Democratic 34th district.[9][4]
Political positions
He supported the second version of the Flag of Mississippi before it was replaced due to its Confederate symbolism.[3]
He has voiced support for Congressional term limits.[10]
Personal life
He is married with four children. He is Baptist.[2]
See also
References
- ^ Mitchell, J. T. (December 2, 2025). "Pope, Mumford win runoffs for Mississippi Senate seats". Supertalk Mississippi. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- ^ a b c d "Don Hartness". Mississippi State Senate. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ^ a b Reeves, Jay (June 30, 2020). "Confederate Flag Losing Prominence 155 Years After Civil War". NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
Don Hartness of Ellisville, walks around the Capitol carrying the current Mississippi state flag and the American flag, Saturday, June 27, 2020, in Jackson, Miss.
- ^ a b c Corder, Frank (November 5, 2025). "Meet the new members of the Mississippi Legislature". The Greenwood Commonwealth. Magnolia Tribune. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- ^ Ware, Allie (November 12, 2020). "'The Flag Man' honors fellow veterans". WAPT. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- ^ "Don Hartness". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- ^ Vance, Taylor; Ganucheau, Adam (August 11, 2023). "Republican voters deliver fatal blow to Mississippi's far-right conservative movement". Mississippi Today. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- ^ Cegielski, Jim (June 9, 2023). "McDaniel, Hartness and Hodge". Laurel Leader-Call. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- ^ Lindsey, Kevan (August 6, 2025). "Hartness wins in landslide over incumbent Robinson". Laurel Leader-Call. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- ^ "Don Hartness Pledges to Support Congressional Term Limits". U.S. Term Limits. July 7, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2026.