Liles Williams announced his candidacy in 1982 to face Congressman Dowdy in a rematch from their special election matchup. Unlike in the special where Williams was the heavy favorite, Congressman Dowdy was viewed as the stronger contender for re-election while Reagan's numbers sagged nationally. Dowdy was able to fend off both Williams and an African American challenger and comfortably won re-election by over 11,000 votes. Dowdy continued to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives until he decided to run for the open U.S. Senate seat in 1988 and lost to Congressman Trent Lott. DOWDY, Charles Wayne, (1943 - ) Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
