Absentee voting has begun for several special legislative elections in Mississippi, which have the potential to add more Democratic seats in a state controlled by Republicans.

Students from the University of Southern Mississippi helped organize a candidate forum aimed at connecting young voters with those running in the upcoming Special Election.

See the list of candidates so far for Mississippi congressional races next year.  Cliff Johnson, a University of Mississippi law school professor, announced on Thursday that he will run as a Democrat for Mississippi’s 1st Congressional District seat in next year against Republican incumbent Trent Kelly.

The incumbent U.S. Senator’s likely Democrat general election opponent touts raising nearly $600,000 after a fundraiser hosted by George Soros’ son in New York. See where other Mississippi midterm candidates stand.

Thompson, first elected to the U.S. House in 1993, is Mississippi’s lone Black congressman. He has been the only Democrat in the state’s delegation in Washington since early 2011, when 22-year Rep. Gene Taylor left office after losing to a Republican in south Mississippi.