Overview:
David Singletary promoted his Mississippi governor campaign at Jackson’s St. Paddy’s Parade, gathering signatures and sharing his platform with attendees while working toward ballot access.
JACKSON, Miss. — David Singletary’s Mississippi governor campaign gained visibility at Hal’s St. Paddy’s Parade & Festival on March 28, 2026, as he gathered signatures and highlighted key issues, including marijuana legalization and government reform.
David Singletary set up near a downtown Jackson storefront during the annual event to talk with festivalgoers while collecting signatures as part of his Mississippi governor campaign.
“We are setting up a booth down here … and while we are setting up, we are collecting signatures for me to be on the ballot as an independent candidate,” Singletary said during an interview with Presence News.
Singletary said he is working to meet Mississippi’s ballot access requirements for independent candidates. Presence News has not independently verified the state’s ballot access requirements or whether Singletary has met them.
According to Ballotpedia, Singletary has previously run for office, though information about his current campaign remains limited.
Campaigning at a Community Event
Photo by William Barber / Presence News
Hal’s St. Paddy’s Parade & Festival, an annual festival held in Jackson, provides a backdrop for Singletary’s efforts to establish a grassroots presence. Each year, the festival attracts thousands of people who come to interact with local groups, businesses, and individuals.
Singletary positioned himself in a highly visible area and was interacting with many of the people who walked by to ask them to help him build his campaign by signing his petition. Candidates often use community events such as parades and festivals as a way to build their name recognition and make contact with voters.
Business Background Tied to Cannabis Industry
In addition to his efforts politically, Singletary has been active in the hemp and CBD industry through his company, Singletary Hemp Farm, located in Mississippi, which sells hemp-derived goods.
According to their website, Singletary’s farm sells a range of CBD products, including full-spectrum oils, which are created from their hemp plants and, according to the company’s website, are tested for quality and potency.
Public records reviewed by Presence News indicate that Singletary owns a hemp farm in Rankin County.
The candidate has aligned himself with his message regarding cannabis during his campaign. This includes calls for the legalization of marijuana and easier access to grow cannabis.
Platform Focuses on Government Reform and Economic Changes
During the interview, Singletary outlined a platform centered on government reform, economic ideas, and social policies.
Additionally, he has emphasized term limits and age limits for holding office, saying that the longer people are in office, the more it causes stagnation in politics.
“We’re going to get term limits … and then we float an initiative to place term limits on politicians,” he said, adding that he supports a 12-year limit and a maximum age of 72 for those in office.
Singletary also called for restoring Mississippi’s ballot initiative process, which allowed citizens to propose laws and constitutional amendments. In 2021, the Mississippi Supreme Court invalidated the state’s ballot initiative process due to constitutional issues, effectively halting citizen-led initiatives.
Singletary also proposed policies centered on marijuana legalization. He argued that legalization could create economic opportunities.
“We’re going to increase revenue just by making marijuana legal,” he said, suggesting that individuals could grow and sell cannabis locally to supplement their income.
Mississippi allows medical marijuana under a regulated system, but recreational use remains illegal. The issue continues to be debated among state leaders and residents.
Additional Positions and Broader Messaging
Singletary also discussed additional positions throughout his interview, such as reinstating military service and introducing prayer in schools, though such measures would face legal and constitutional considerations.
His comments also touched on national economic concerns, including the federal debt, which he linked to broader policy priorities at the state level.
Although some of his suggestions do not fall under the actual purview of a state gubernatorial position, they still reiterate the general messaging behind the campaign’s outreach efforts.
Grassroots Effort Continues
Singletary’s participation in the parade reflects an early-stage effort to build support and meet ballot requirements to qualify as an independent candidate for governor.
The opportunity for lesser-known candidates to interact face to face with the electorate – outside of traditional campaign settings – was exemplified at Hal’s St. Paddy’s Parade.
For the attendees, they were able to listen to a potential candidate while engaging in a local community event – highlighting how community events can serve as early campaign opportunities.
Sources:
Presence News Interview with David Singletary
(Conducted March 28, 2026, at Hal’s St. Paddy’s Parade & Festival, Jackson, Mississippi)
Ballotpedia – David Singletary Profile
Mississippi Secretary of State. Candidate Qualifications.
MMJDaily. “US (MS): Hemp grower says that potential legislation will kill his business.”
Editor’s Disclaimer: This article is based on an interview with David Singletary and publicly available information at the time of publication. Presence News has not independently verified all claims made by the candidate, including specific ballot access requirements. This article is intended to report on campaign activity and does not constitute an endorsement of any candidate or policy position.
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