MS-Sen: Dem challenger and his wife donated to his GOP opponent last year

Howard Sherman is asking Mississippians to vote for him to be their senator. However, records show that the Democratic candidate has made some significant donations to Republican politicians, according to the Jackson Free Press.

Already facing long odds to unseat a GOP incumbent in Mississippi, the donations could cast doubt among Democratic voters about whether he is truly loyal to the Democratic Party. Indeed, Sherman himself has already had to answer questions about rumors that he would change parties if elected.

Whom did he donate to?

Sherman is currently competing in a runoff election to be the Democratic nominee for the Mississippi Senate race, which would give him the right to face off against incumbent GOP Sen. Roger Wicker in November.

Records show that Sherman and his wife, Sela Ward, each donated $5,000 dollars to Wicker last year. Aware of the scrutiny that donation might receive, Sherman explained it on his website:

Before Doug Jones' historic victory in Alabama, the debate in Mississippi wasn't "What Democrat can beat Roger Wicker?" Instead, the fear held by Democrats was, "What if Chris McDaniel beats Roger Wicker?" Knowing the extreme positions of McDaniel — that he represents everything Mississippi is trying to move forward from — and having to make a choice between McDaniel and Wicker, Howard Sherman made a donation to Wicker with the specific purpose of stopping Chris McDaniel. 30,000 Democrats made a similar choice in 2014 when they voted for Republican Thad Cochran in order to defeat Chris McDaniel rather than vote for the Democrat in the race. It is ridiculous to contend that Howard Sherman supports Roger Wicker; he's running against Roger Wicker.

Sherman also donated to former senator and current U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions in 2003, which Sherman said was a $500 donation to meet Sessions at a cocktail party for the purpose of connecting with former director of the National Institutes of Health Anthony Fauci on a research project.

"We fly to Washington. We go to a cocktail party, pay $500 and meet Sen. Sessions," Sherman explained to the Free Press. "He's just the senator of Alabama. I don't know I'm running for Senate 15 years later."

What about the Democratic runoff?

Sherman and state Rep. David Baria finished in a virtual tie in the June 5 Democratic primary, so the nominee will be chosen in runoff election on June 26.