We are more than 1,100 days from the next set of statewide elections in Mississippi.

Gov. Phil Bryant will not be on the ballot as he is term limited, so there will be plenty of discussion about who will be running, who won’t be running and who should be running.

The groundwork for a gubernatorial run by Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves is being laid out on the Republican side. On the Democratic side, Attorney General Jim Hood is believed to be positioning himself for a run.

It should be interesting, as politics in Mississippi usually are.

But, as we are 1,100 days from the election, it might be a little too early to offer an endorsement on any statewide office … except for one — the race for lieutenant governor.

Reeves is term limited in his current position, thus the much-guaranteed run for governor.

The person many believe to be running — the man many hope runs — is Vicksburg native and current Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann.

Last week, Hosemann, along with Mississippi Sen. Chad McMahan, R-Guntown, toured some of the schools and facilities in the Vicksburg Warren School District.

Hosemann had the chance to show off some of his hometown, learn more about Vicksburg’s improving school system, the Leader In Me initiative and hear from students, teachers and administrators.

But during his visit, which included a stop at The Post, we asked … are you going to run for lieutenant governor?

His reply was structured, planned and just vague enough to cover any eventuality

“I had a number of things I wanted to accomplish as secretary of state and we’ve gotten those started or done those,” Hosemann said, carefully crafting his response. “It’s time to look at what’s next and see if there are some other things we can accomplish.”

When it comes to the lieutenant governor’s position and the leadership in the Mississippi Legislature, there is plenty to “accomplish.”

Over the summer, during a visit with the state’s newspapers at the annual Mississippi Press Association’s Convention in Biloxi, Hosemann was far less careful with his words. He was honest, he was upset and he let everyone with a nearby recorder, sharpened pencil or functioning pen know that he was quite unhappy with the Legislature’s performance, their drastic funding cuts of crucial state programs and their inability to properly fund the state’s education system.

In short, he was mad and he let everyone know about it.

Those of us in Vicksburg know of Hosemann, his qualities and the forces that drive his life, his beliefs and his decisions.

We are both proud of our native son and hopeful for the positive impact his continued involvement in Mississippi’s state government can have on our state.

A change in the leadership structure of our Legislature is needed and it is our hope Hosemann does throw his hat in the ring.

While we today withhold an official endorsement of his election to the position in November 2019, we have the pencil sharpened and the pen ready.