2015_Mississippi_elections

2015 Mississippi elections

2015 Mississippi elections

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A general election was held in the U.S. state of Mississippi on November 3, 2015. All of Mississippi's executive officers were up for election. Primary elections were held on August 4, 2015, with primary runoffs to be held on August 25, 2015 if no candidate received a majority in the primary. The filing deadline for primary ballot access was February 27.

Quick Facts

Governor

Incumbent Republican Governor Phil Bryant won re-election to a second and final term in office.[1] He was challenged in the Republican primary by Mitch Young.[2]

Retired firefighter Robert Gray, physician Valerie Short and attorney Vicki Slater ran for the Democratic nomination.[3]

Lieutenant governor

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

Incumbent Republican lieutenant governor Tate Reeves ran for re-election to a second term in office. He was challenged in the primary by teacher Alisha Nelson McElhenney.[2] Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann,[4][5] State Senator and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014 Chris McDaniel[6] and State Senator Michael Watson all considered running against Reeves in the Republican primary, but none did so.[6]

Former Republican State Senator and former Republican Madison County Supervisor Tim Johnson[7] won the Democratic primary against actor and candidate for Mayor of Greenwood in 2013 Jelani Barr.[8][9] Mississippi Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley was a potential Democratic candidate[10] but instead ran for re-election.[11]

Reeves won the general election against Johnson.[9]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

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Republican primary

Candidates

Results

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General election

Results

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Secretary of State

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

Incumbent Republican Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann considered running for Lieutenant Governor against Tate Reeves in the Republican primary.[4][5] However, he chose to run for re-election to a third term in office instead. Potential Republican candidates for Secretary of State included State Senator Michael Watson and attorney and Hosemann's former Chief of Staff Cory Wilson had he chosen to retire.[15]

Retired firefighter Charles Graham ran for the Democrats.[16] State Senator David Blount and former Secretary of State Dick Molpus were potential Democratic candidates, but neither chose to run.[15][17]

Hosemann won in the general election against Graham.[9]

Democratic nomination

Candidate

  • Charles Graham, retired firefighter[16]

Reform nomination

Candidate

  • Randy Walker

Republican primary

Candidate

Results

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General election

Results

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Attorney general

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

Incumbent Democratic attorney general Jim Hood had been mentioned as a potential candidate for Governor, but he instead ran for re-election to a fourth term in office.[18][19][20]

The only candidate to file for the Republican nomination was Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst.[21] Attorney Russ Latino considered running[22] but declined to do so.[23] Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann, State Senator Chris McDaniel, State Senator Michael Watson, Jackson County District Attorney Tony Lawrence, Madison and Rankin Counties' District Attorney Michael Guest were all mentioned as potential Republican candidates.[6][15] State Representative Mark Baker and attorney, author and former Madison County Supervisor Andy Taggart declined to run.[24]

Hood won in the general election against Hurst.[9]

Democratic nomination

Candidate

Republican primary

Candidate

Results

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General election

Results

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State Auditor

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

Incumbent Republican State Auditor Stacey Pickering ran for re-election to a third term in office.[25] Pickering was challenged in the Republican primary by Mary Hawkins-Butler, the Mayor of Madison.[26][27] State Senator Michael Watson had considered running but did not do so.[28]

Jocelyn Pritchett, an engineer, ran as a Democrat.[16] Charles Graham, a retired firefighter, had been running for the office, but decided to run for Secretary of State instead.[29]

Pickering won in the general election against Pritchett.[9]

Democratic nomination

Candidate

  • Jocelyn Pritchett, engineer[16]

Reform nomination

Candidate

  • Lajena Walley

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

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General election

Results

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State Treasurer

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

Incumbent Republican State Treasurer Lynn Fitch ran for re-election to a second term in office.[25] Attorney David McRae, whose family formerly owned the McRae's department store chain, ran against Fitch in the Republican primary.[30] No Democrat filed to run for the office.[9]

Fitch won in the primary and proceed to win in the general election against Reform party candidate Viola McFarland.[31]

Reform nomination

Candidate

  • Viola McFarland

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

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General election

Results

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Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

Incumbent Republican Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Cindy Hyde-Smith ran for re-election to a second term in office[25] against Addie Lee Green who ran as a Democrat.[16] Hyde-Smith won in the general election against Green.[9]

Democratic nomination

Candidate

Reform nomination

Candidate

  • Cathy L. Toole

Republican primary

Candidate

Results

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General election

Results

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Commissioner of Insurance

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

Incumbent Republican Commissioner of Insurance Mike Chaney ran for re-election to a third term in office.[25][32] Businessman John Mosley ran against Chaney in the Republican primary.[6]

Former State Representative and Director of the Mississippi Democratic Trust Brandon Jones was a possible Democratic candidate,[32] though no Democrat filed to run for the office.[9]

Chaney prevailed in the primary, guaranteeing his win in the general election.[9]

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

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General election

Results

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Public Service Commission

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

Northern District

Incumbent Democratic Commissioner Brandon Presley had considered running for Governor and Lieutenant Governor,[25] but decided not to and ran for re-election to a third term in office.[11]

Presley won in the general election against Republican Mike Maynard.[16][9]

Democratic nomination

Candidate
  • Brandon Presley, incumbent

Republican nomination

Candidate
  • Mike Maynard
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General election

Results
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Central District

Incumbent Republican Commissioner Lynn Posey retired rather than run for re-election to a third term in office.[33]

For the Republicans, Brent Bailey and attorney and 2003 candidate for Governor Mitch Tyner ran in the primary.[34][35] Other potential Republican candidates were former State Senator and candidate for State Treasurer in 2011 Lee Yancey and Jason Cochran, a utility construction company project manager, the son of former Commissioner Nielsen Cochran and nephew of U.S. Senator Thad Cochran[33]

Bruce Burton and State Representative Cecil Brown ran for the Democrats.[34][36] Robert Amos originally qualified as a Democratic candidate for this seat, but switched to run for the Central District of the Transportation Commission.[34]

Brown faced off in the general election against Bailey and won.[9]

Democratic primary

Candidates
  • Cecil Brown
  • Bruce Wilder Burton
Results
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Reform nomination

Candidate
  • LaTrice D. Notree

Republican primary

Candidates
  • Brent Bailey
  • Tony Greer
Results
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General election

Results
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Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

Southern District

Incumbent Republican Commissioner Steve Renfroe, who was appointed to the office in September 2013 after Leonard Bentz resigned to become executive director of the South Mississippi Planning and Development District,[37][38] decided not to run for election to a full term in office.[32] State Senator Philip Moran and Hancock County Supervisor Steve Seymour ruled out running and 2011 candidate Travis Rose chose not to run again.[32] Sam Britton, Mike Collier, and State Senator Tony Smith both ran for the Republican nomination,[39] in which Britton won following a runoff against Smith.[40]

Thomas Blanton filed to run as the Democratic candidate and received the nomination unopposed.[41]

Britton won in the general election against Blanton.[9]

Democratic primary

Candidates
  • Tom Blanton

Reform nomination

Candidate
  • Lonny Kenneth Spence

Republican primary

Candidates
Results
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Runoff
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General election

Results
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Transportation Commission

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

Northern District

Incumbent Republican Mike Tagert, who won a special election in 2011 following the death of Democratic Commissioner Bill Minor, ran for re-election to a second full term in office.[34] He also ran in the May 2015 special election for Mississippi's 1st congressional district. Hernando Mayor Chip Johnson announced that he would run for the Republican nomination, but he withdrew from the race following Tagert's loss in the Congressional election.[43][44] Candidate Jimmy Mills of Tupelo challenged Tagert in the primary.[45]

Democrat Danny Woods of Winona filed for the Democrats and faced Tagert in the general election; Tagert won.[46]

Republican primary

Candidates
  • Jimmie D. Mills
  • Mike Tagert, incumbent
Results
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Democratic nomination

Candidate
  • Danny Woods

General election

Results
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Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

Central District

Incumbent Republican Commissioner Dick Hall, who was appointed to the Commission in 1999, ran for re-election to a fifth full term in office.[34]

Robert Amos ran for the Democrats,[34] as well as Mary Coleman and Natasha Magee-Woods.[45] Former Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson, Jr. was a potential Democratic candidate, but he did not run.[17]

Hall won in the general election against Coleman.[46]

Democratic primary

Candidates
  • Robert Amos
  • Mary Coleman, State Representative
  • Natasha Magee-Woods
Results
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Runoff
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Republican nomination

Candidate
  • Dick Hall, incumbent
Results
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General election

Results
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Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

Southern District

Incumbent Republican Commissioner Tom King ran for re-election to a second term in office.[48] Chad Toney ran for the Democrats.[34]

King won in the general election against Toney.[46]

Democratic nomination

Candidate
  • Chad Toney

Reform nomination

Candidate
  • Sheranda Atkinson

Republican nomination

Candidate
Results
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General election

Results
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Special Congressional election

A special election for Mississippi's 1st congressional district was held to fill the term left by the vacancy created by the death of Alan Nunnelee. Nunnelee, a member of the Republican Party, died on February 6, 2015.[49] The top-two primary was held on May 12, with Democrat Walter Zinn and Republican Trent Kelly advancing. Kelly defeated Zinn in the June 12 runoff election.[50]


References

  1. Geoff Pender (January 18, 2015). "Power Rankings: Top Session Issues". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  2. Wagster Pettus, Emily (February 27, 2015). "All 8 statewide Mississippi officials challenged in election". The Sun Herald. Archived from the original on March 1, 2015. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  3. Pender, Geoff (February 19, 2015). "Democratic Party announcing Slater for governor". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  4. Geoff Pender (November 22, 2014). "Will there be a Hosemann-Reeves lt. gov battle?". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  5. Brian Perry (November 25, 2014). "Perry/Hosemann vs. Reeves?". Madison County Journal. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  6. Geoff Pender (July 19, 2014). "Pender: Who's running for what in '15". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  7. Sam R. Hall (February 4, 2015). "GOPer Tim Johnson to run for Lt. Gov. as Democrat". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
  8. Wagster Pettus, Emily (February 26, 2015). "Bryant to face primary challenge from Mitch Young". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  9. Geoff Pender (November 11, 2014). "Presley fundraising fuels '15 gubernatorial talk". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  10. Jimmie E. Gates (December 30, 2014). "Brandon Presley says he isn't running for governor". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  11. Geoff Pender (September 15, 2014). "Pender: Who might run for what and why". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  12. Pender, Geoff (February 27, 2015). "Statewide elections slate set". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  13. Biggs, Mike (February 25, 2015). "Mike's Missives: It's About to Be Showtime! #MS2015". Mississippi Political Pulse. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  14. Floyd Ingram (July 31, 2013). "Jim Hood to open state office in Houston". Chickasaw Journal. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  15. "AP analysis: Mississippi party leaders preparing strategy for 2015". Gulf Live. August 25, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  16. "AG Hood qualifies for re-election". The Clarion-Ledger. February 20, 2015. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  17. Associated Press (February 27, 2015). "GOP federal prosecutor to challenge Mississippi AG Jim Hood". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  18. "Russ Latino considering run for AG, meeting at Republican HQ this week". Y'all Politics. February 17, 2015. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  19. "Russ Latino will not seek GOP nomination for Mississippi Attorney General". Y'all Politics. February 26, 2015. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  20. Alan Lange (January 29, 2015). "With Taggart and Baker not running for AG, Republican field wide open". Y'all Politics. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  21. Bobby Harrison (November 23, 2014). "What about 2015? Talk already abounds about next election season". Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  22. "Madison mayor just might challenge Pickering". Sun Herald. January 6, 2015. Archived from the original on January 11, 2015. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  23. "Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler qualifies to run for auditor". The Clarion-Ledger. February 9, 2015. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  24. "Candidates playing chicken with deadline". The Clarion-Ledger. February 14, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  25. Biggs, Mike (February 24, 2015). "Democrat Charles E. Graham Qualifies for Auditor". Mississippi Political Pulse. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  26. Emily Wagster Pettus (January 27, 2015). "Attorney McRae challenging treasurer Fitch in GOP primary". Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  27. "Lynn Fitch wins second term as state treasurer". WAPT. November 3, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  28. Frank Corder (September 28, 2014). "A couple rumors and a little perspective on 2015 – Updated". Y'all Politics. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  29. Geoff Pender (December 30, 2014). "Posey won't seek re-election to PSC". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  30. Perry, Brian (February 25, 2015). "Qualifying deadline Friday". The Neshoba Democrat. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  31. Emily Wagster Pettus (January 2, 2015). "Tyner running for Miss. Public Service Commission". Sun Herald. Archived from the original on January 5, 2015. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  32. Warren Kulo (November 11, 2014). "Jackson lawmaker running for utility commission". WAPT. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  33. Warren Kulo (September 3, 2014). "Former Chevron exec Steve Renfroe of Moss Point new Public Service Commissioner (updated)". Gulf Live. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  34. Barnes, Joey (August 4, 2015). "Preparing For Mississippi Primaries". WCBI TV. Associated Press. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  35. "Britton wins Republican nomination for PSC". WLBT. Associated Press. August 26, 2015. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  36. Cruz, Yolanda. "3 vie for Southern District seat on PSC". Hattiesburg American. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  37. "2015 State Republican Party Certified Primary Runoff Election Results". Mississippi Secretary of Stat. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  38. Long, Robert Lee (February 24, 2015). "Johnson seeks Transportation Post". DeSoto Times-Tribune. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  39. "2015 Republican Primary Certified Results" (PDF). Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  40. Amy, Jeff (July 30, 2015). "Transportation candidates face road funding deficit". Hattiesburg American. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  41. "2015 Democratic Primary Runoff". Mississippi Secretary of State. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  42. "Tom King seeking re-election as MDOT's Southern District Commissioner". Gulf Live. January 19, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  43. "Alan Nunnelee, Mississippi congressman, dies at 56". The Clarion-Ledger. February 6, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  44. Cahn, Emily (June 2, 2015). "Kelly Wins Runoff for Mississippi House Seat". Roll Call.

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