Indecision by legislative candidate Gary Baldwin whether to stay in the race caused the minister and newspaper editor’s name to drop off lists of state Democratic candidates then reappear, a party official said Thursday.

Confirming Baldwin’s name will appear as a challenger to five-term incumbent Rep. George Flaggs, D-Vicksburg, on primary ballots Aug. 7, Mississippi Democratic Party executive director Keelan Sanders said Baldwin will remain in the race.

&#8220He was debating whether he was going to run or not,” Sanders said.

Efforts to contact Baldwin have failed.

By state law, the period for all candidates running for office on the local and state level to qualify began Jan. 1 and ended March 1 at 5 p.m. Baldwin qualified with the state party immediately before the deadline, but there was a delay in his name appearing on its official list. Last week it dropped off, but has reappeared, indicating the party has reinstated its original pre-deadline acceptance.

Another minister, Rick McAlister, 54, is the uncontested Republican nominee for the office representing central and northern Vicksburg.

The opponents are the first Flaggs will face from a Democrat or Republican since 1995.

With Baldwin’s apparent re-entry, 52 candidates are running for local and statewide office in Warren County, including contested races for state Senate and both the House District 55 seat and District 54, covering south Warren County, Issaquena County and a portion of Sharkey County.

In the Senate race, Rep. Chester Masterson is being challenged by Republicans W. Briggs Hopson III and Buddy Terrell for the seat vacated by Sen. Mike Chaney. The two-term senator has filed for state insurance commissioner.

Businessman and former city candidate Eric Rawlings is the only Democrat in the Senate race.

Running to fill Masterson’s seat in District 54 are Republicans Ryan Sadler and Alex Monsour, independent Tom Setser and Jennifer Thomas as the Democrat.

Party primaries are Aug. 7, with nominees advancing to the Nov. 6 general election ballot to face any independents.