Days after Mississippi Republican Rep. Roger Wicker was appointed to the Senate, the political fallout from Republican Gov. Haley Barbour’s decision has begun.

Since Monday, Barbour has been hit with a lawsuit over the date he set for the special election to fill out the remaining five years of the term of Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., who resigned Dec. 18. Wicker has initiated his campaign for the almost-full Senate term, and a competitive race for Wicker’s House seat has taken shape.

Barbour appointed Wicker on Dec. 31 to temporarily fill the vacancy caused by Lott’s resignation, and Wicker resigned his House seat that same day. Though Barbour has yet to announce the special election date for the 1st District or establish an official qualifying period, candidates have already announced their intentions to run.

Republican Southaven Mayor Greg Davis told CQ Politics that he has filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission and in Mississippi to establish a campaign for the 1st District seat, and news reports indicate that Davis already faces primary competition from Republican former Tupelo Mayor Glenn McCullough.

Davis said his experience will make him the best candidate for the job, including the seven years he spent in the state legislature. But he added that he fully expects a competitive campaign for the open, Republican-leaning seat.

“Every vote will be important,” Davis said. “We’re going to focus on every voter across the district.”

The 1st, which takes in the cities of Tupelo, Southaven and Columbus, was once a stronghold for Democrats, who represented the area for more than a century until 1994. Much like the state of Mississippi and the South in general, the 1st has trended Republican in recent years. District voters re-elected Wicker with 66 percent in 2006, and President Bush won re-election in the district with 62 percent in 2004.

Still, Democrats are eager to get in on the open seat race. Lawyer Brian Neely told CQ Politics he plans to run for the Democratic nomination and focus on tax reform.

“Our present taxation system is designed to bleed the small businessman dry,” Neely said. He added that education and guaranteeing that every citizen gets “their equal share of the American dream” will be cornerstones of his campaign.

Travis Childers, Democratic Prentiss County chancery clerk, has also indicated he will run for the seat.

State law requires Barbour to call for a 1st District special election within 60 days of the vacancy. Barbour will be required to choose an election date at least 40 days from the time he orders the special election. Candidates will be required to file for that race at least 20 days prior to the election.

Wicker vacated his House seat Monday and has wasted no time focusing on his own upcoming campaign for a full Senate term. News reports indicate Wicker visited four Mississippi cities on Wednesday to meet with constituents. He also had his Senate campaign Web site up and running that day.

Wicker is well known in his district in the northern part of Mississippi, but will need to make himself more familiar to residents of the state’s three other congressional districts. Wicker begins with a big financial advantage, having reported $569,000 on hand at the end of September. He will be permitted to transfer that money into a Senate account.

Though Mississippians have not elected a Democrat senator since 1982, Democrats believe their top-flight candidates could make this race competitive. At the top of the list are former Democratic Govs. Ronnie Musgrove and Ray Mabus, who each have a statewide profile.

CQ Politics rates the Senate special election race Republican Favored.

Barbour set the Senate special election to coincide with the Nov. 4, 2008, general election with a runoff on Nov. 25, if necessary. But the Democratic Party and state Attorney General Jim Hood, a Democrat, say that the Nov. 4 date violates state law. Democrats argue that election law stipulates a special election must be held 90 days after the appointment is made unless the vacancy occurred during a general election year. Because Lott resigned in 2007, Hood argues that the 90-day rule applies.

Hood filed a complaint in Hinds County Circuit Court Wednesday arguing that point, and asked for a preliminary injunction and speedy hearing.

The only exception to the 90-day rule is if a vacancy occurs in a year there shall be a general state or congressional election.

“The state party also supports the complaint Attorney General Jim Hood filed today...” state Democratic Chairman Wayne Dowdy said Wednesday, adding that holding an election within 90 days, “will ensure Mississippians are represented in Washington by someone of their choice as soon as possible.”

A delayed election, however, would give Wicker more time in office and more time to campaign— major advantages for a special election.