October 25, 2023, Retired USMC Colonel Ghannon “Crow” Burton, Mississippi and Tishomingo County’s own “Top Gun” pilot filed to run for the U.S. Senate seat in Mississippi.  Colonel Burton announced his run on a conservative radio program in New Albany earlier in the day but personally made the announcement in Iuka at Cream and Sugar Café during the Tishomingo County Republican Party meeting. 

Colonel Burton moved back to Tishomingo County in January of last year from his last duty station at the Pentagon and immediately started an organization to support conservative organizations, “Mississippi for America First”.  Learn more at www.MFAF.us.

He went to school at Belmont and now lives outside of Dennis, MS.  Ghannon graduated as an engineer from Mississippi State and joined the Marines where his skill as a pilot was soon recognized.  He served in five combat tours over a thirty year career and was the Commander of the largest F-18 Super Hornet squadron in the USMC.   Ironically, he flew off the U.S. Aircraft Carrier USS “John C. Stennis” and tells stories of how hair raising it is to land on a carrier at night during stormy weather. 

Colonel Burton stated, “I was raised in Mississippi and graduated from Mississippi State in 1993 and after an adventurous successful career as an F/A-18 Pilot, TopGun Graduate, Test Pilot, and two time Commander with 5 Combat deployments I have returned home.

Now, I am retired and grateful to be home in Mississippi.  Thanks to everyone who has been working to make Mississippi a great place to come home to.  That said, I am deeply concerned for future of our country and it is clear to me that the elites in both parties have sold our country out to the Globalists and the Chinese Communist Party.  Our self-appointed “Betters” are sowing confusion, division, and chaos in order to better control us.  This has got to stop or we will not survive as a free democratic republic.  

The Tishomingo County Republican Party Chairman, Ken Dulaney said “It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to even meet a leader of this caliber, much less have him move to your community and be willing to serve.”  

Pastor Haskel Sparks provided the monthly “10 Minutes of Hope” message to the group and spoke about Barnabas and what it means lift others up.  “It is easy to tear people down, it is work to build them up.  That is what we are to do as Christians and real friends.  Politics aside, we ALL should be working together to build each other up like Jesus and Barnabas did.”  The crowd was intensely focused and applauded as Pastor Sparks spoke. 

Colonel Burton, Judge Seth Adams, Lance Heavener, and Susan Emmons all received applause as announcements were made and campaigns see the end of the election cycle.  Colonel Burton said it best as the group adjourned… “We are appointed to do our very best with what we have, every day, and to show grace as we have been shown grace by Almighty God.  If we do this, we can save this nation and WE CAN DO BETTER.”

To learn more about Colonel Burton or to have him come speak to your group before his schedule fills up visit Burton4USSenate.com. 

Or, you can reach out to the Republican Party at krdulaney@gmail.com with questions on elections, candidates or contributions.