Ellington

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Former state Sen. Tim Johnson of Madison is switching from Republican to Democrat to run for lieutenant governor of Mississippi.

The 55-year-old businessman, who works sometimes as an Elvis Presley impersonator, announced his intentions Wednesday at the Capitol.

Johnson says he's running because Republicans have failed to expand Medicaid, fully fund schools and properly maintain highways.

Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves is seeking a second term, and candidates' qualifying deadline is Feb. 27.

Johnson is a Kosciusko native. He was a Madison alderman before winning a state Senate seat in 1995 in a district that included parts of Attala, Leake and Madison counties.

He did not seek re-election in 2003 because his Senate district disappeared during a redrawing of legislative maps. He was Madison County supervisor from 2004 to 2012.