The Green Papers: Mississippi 2018 General Election
 
This page is for offices up for election in 2018. Find 2019 elections here.

Flag images courtesy of The World Flag Database. Copyright http://www.flags.net/ Mississippi
Elections for Statewide offices and Congress
✓ Primary: Tuesday 5 June 2018
✓ Runoff - US Senate 1-D, US House 3-R: Tuesday 26 June 2018
✓ General Election/Special Election Senate Class 2: Tuesday 6 November 2018
✓ Special Election Runoff Senate Class 2: Tuesday 27 November 2018
Thursday 1 March 2018 - Filing Deadline - Primary/Independent/Third/Minor .
Tuesday 24 April 2018 - Filing Deadline - Special Senate Class 2 Election .
Tuesday 5 June 2018 - Primary . Polling hours 7:00a-7:00p CDT (1200-0000 UTC).
Tuesday 26 June 2018 - Runoff - US Senate 1-D, US House 3-R . Polling hours 7:00a-7:00p CDT (1200-0000 UTC).
Tuesday 6 November 2018 - General Election/Special Election Senate Class 2 . Polling hours 7:00a-7:00p CST (1300-0100 UTC).
Tuesday 27 November 2018 - Special Election Runoff Senate Class 2. Polling hours 7:00a-7:00p CST (1300-0100 UTC).
 
Senators:2(Electoral Classes 1 and 2)
Governor:1 
2010 Census:2,978,240 (0.96% of 309,785,186)
2012, 2016, 2020 Electoral Votes:6(1.12% of 538)
2012-2020 Representatives:4(0.92% of 435)
Capital:Jackson
 

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Mississippi State and Local Government


The primary is for the Democrats and Republicans.

If no candidate receives a majority of the vote in a partisan primary, the two top vote-getters proceed to a runoff. The candidate who receives the most votes in the runoff (aka second primary) shall be nominated as a Party's candidate for the office.

To win a State-based statewide office in the General election, a candidate must receive 50% or more of the vote and carry 62 or more of the 122 House districts. Otherwise, the House chooses between the top two vote-getters in January.


For special elections, all candidates run in a non-partisan primary. Party labels do not appear on the ballot. If no one receives a majority in the primary, the top 2 vote getters proceed to a non-partisan runoff.


2018 elections calendar from the State Board of Elections.

2018 Candidate Qualifying List from the State Board of Elections.

5 June 2018:
Results from The New York Times
Results from Politico.

Since no candidate received a majority of the vote in the 5 June primary, a 26 June runoff will be held between the two top vote-getters:
U.S. Senate Class 1 Democratic
U.S. House CD 3 Republican

26 June 2018: Primary Runoff Sample Ballots from the State Board of Elections.

26 June 2018 Runoff
Results from The New York Times.
Results from Politico.


6 November 2018 General Election
SAMPLE Official Election Ballot from the State Board of Elections.
Certified returns from the State Board of Elections.

Since no candidate received a majority of the vote in the 6 November 2018 election, there will be a Tuesday 27 November 2018 non-partisan runoff for the Senate Class 2 Special Election Seat between Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican) and former Congressman Alphonso Michael "Mike" Espy (Democratic).


27 November 2018 Runoff:
Certified returns from the State Board of Elections.

 
           

U.S. Senate  6 year term. No Term Limit. 115th Senate  Senate Electoral Classes

Class 1
Seat up for regular election
Republican Senator Roger F. Wicker
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2018
Appointed 31 December 2007 to fill the vacancy caused by the 18 December 2007 resignation of Senator Trent Lott. First elected in a special election: 4 November 2008. Re-elected: 2012
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018
Renominated
 Candidate list (4)
  Elected Republican 547,619 58.49% Senator Roger F. Wicker
FEC S8MS00196; 26 Nov 18; Tot $6,110,561; Dsb $5,767,493
  Candidate Democratic 369,567 39.47% state Representative David Wayne Baria
Proceeds to Runoff, 26 June 2018

FEC S8MS00253; 17 Oct 18; Tot $781,291; Dsb $702,697
  Candidate Libertarian 12,981 1.39% Danny Bedwell
FEC S8MS00337
  Candidate Reform 6,048 0.65% Shawn O'Hara
circa 20 November 2018: Deceased

FEC S4MS00062
Total 936,215 100.00%  

Class 2 Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith
• Re-elected Tuesday 3 November 2020
Appointed: 1 April 2018 [re: the resignation of Senator Thad Cochran (Republican)]. First elected in a Special Election: 27 November 2018.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2020
  
Senator Thad Cochran (Republican), who was first elected in 1978; and re-elected in 1984, 1990, 1996, 2002, 2008, and 2014, announced his intention to resign from the U.S. Senate effective 1 April 2018 "... I regret my health has become an ongoing challenge ..."
On 21 March 2018, Governor Phil Bryant (Republican) announced that upon Senator Cochran's resignation, he will appoint state Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican) to the Senate Class 2 Seat.
1 April 2018: Senator Thad Cochran resigns.
3 April 2018: Governor Phil Bryant (Republican) set 6 November 2018 as the date for the Special U.S. Senate election. If no one receives a majority in the primary, the top 2 vote getters proceed to a 27 November non-partisan runoff. For special elections, all candidates run in a non-partisan primary. Party labels do not appear on the ballot. The filing deadline is 24 April.

Class 2
Seat up for special election
Special Election
Republican
Seat up for special election: Tuesday 27 November 2018
Special Election - Caused by the 1 April 2018 resignation of Senator Thad Cochran (Republican).
Since no candidate received a majority of the vote in the 6 November 2018 election, there will be a Tuesday 27 November 2018 non-partisan runoff between Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican) and former Congressman Alphonso Michael "Mike" Espy (Democratic).
 Candidate list (2)
  Elected Nonpartisan; (Republican) 486,769 53.63% Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith
6 November 2018: Proceeds to 27 November runoff.

FEC S8MS00261; 17 Dec 18; Tot $5,511,098; Dsb $5,447,353
  Candidate Nonpartisan; (Democratic) 420,819 46.37% former Congressman Alphonso Michael "Mike" Espy
First elected to the U.S. House: 1986. Re-elected 1988, 1990, 1992. Resigned: 22 January 1993 after having been appointed Secretary of Agriculture by President William J. "Bill" Clinton. Served as Secretary of Agriculture: 1993-1994.
6 November 2018: Proceeds to 27 November runoff.

FEC S8MS00287; 17 Dec 18; Tot $7,330,130; Dsb $7,091,999
Total 907,588 100.00%  
 

3 April 2018: Governor Phil Bryant (Republican) set 6 November 2018 as the date for the Special U.S. Senate election. If no one receives a majority in the primary, the top 2 vote getters proceed to a 27 November non-partisan runoff. For special elections, all candidates run in a non-partisan primary. Party labels do not appear on the ballot. The filing deadline is 24 April.

6 November 2018 General Election Results: Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (Nonpartisan, Republican) 41.59%; former Congressman Alphonso Michael "Mike" Espy (Nonpartisan, Democratic) 40.56%; state Senator Christopher Brian "Chris" McDaniel (Nonpartisan, Republican) 16.42%; Tobey Bernard Bartee (Nonpartisan, Democratic) 1.44%.

Since no candidate received a majority of the vote in the 6 November 2018 election, there will be a Tuesday 27 November 2018 non-partisan runoff between Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican) 41.59% and former Congressman Alphonso Michael "Mike" Espy (Democratic) 40.56%.


Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2015, 2019. Term Limit: No one can serve more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime, All Governors

  Republican Governor Phil Bryant
First elected: 2011; re-elected: 2015.
Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 5 November 2019
The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election.
Open Chair - At term limit.
 Candidate list (3)
  Candidate Democratic     Attorney General Jim Hood
1 October 2018: Will run for Governor in 2019.
  Candidate Democratic     Velesha Williams
  Candidate Republican     Petal Mayor Hal Marx

Lieutenant Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2015, 2019

  Republican Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves
First elected: 2011; re-elected: 2015.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 5 November 2019
Open Seat - At term limit.
 Candidate list (2)
  Candidate Democratic     state Representative Jay Hughes
  Candidate Republican     Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann
8 March 2018: Running for Lieutenant Governor in 2019.

115th U.S. House of Representatives  2-year term. Election Cycle 2018, 2020. No Term Limit. 115th House
Partisan Composition (primary disposition):
3 Republican (2 Renominated, 1 Open);
1 Democratic (1 Renominated)

Incumbent - 115th Congress
CD 1
Seat up for regular election
Republican Congressman John Trent "Trent" Kelly
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2018
First elected in a Special Election: 2 June 2015 (re: death of Congressman Patrick Alan "Alan" Nunnelee).
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018
Renominated
 Candidate list (3) - 116th Congress
  Elected Republican 158,245 66.91% Congressman John Trent "Trent" Kelly
FEC H6MS01131; 26 Nov 18; Tot $904,578; Dsb $864,683
  Candidate Democratic 76,601 32.39% Randy MacK Wadkins
FEC H8MS01145; 26 Nov 18; Tot $156,935; Dsb $155,335
  Candidate Reform 1,675 0.71% Tracella Lou O'Hara Hill
FEC H4MS04080
Total 236,521 100.00%  

Incumbent - 115th Congress
CD 2
Seat up for regular election
Democratic Congressman Bennie G. Thompson
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2018
First elected in Special Election, 13 April 1993, re: resignation of Congressman Mike Espy, 21 January 1993
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018
Renominated
 Candidate list (3) - 116th Congress
  Elected Democratic 158,921 71.79% Congressman Bennie G. Thompson
FEC H4MS02068; 26 Nov 18; Tot $1,015,902; Dsb $969,332
  Candidate Independent 48,104 21.73% Troy Ray
FEC H4MS02183
  Candidate Reform 14,354 6.48% Irving Harris
FEC H8MS02069
Total 221,379 100.00%  

Incumbent - 115th Congress
CD 3
Seat up for regular election
Open
Republican Congressman Gregg Harper
First elected: 2008
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018
Open Seat - 4 January 2018: Not seeking re-election.
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **
 Candidate list (3) - 116th Congress
  Elected Republican 160,284 62.30% District Attorney Michael Patrick Guest
Proceeds to and won the Runoff, 26 June 2018

FEC H8MS03125; 26 Nov 18; Tot $953,276; Dsb $919,782
  Candidate Democratic 94,461 36.72% state Representative Michael Ted Evans
FEC H8MS03216
  Candidate Reform 2,526 0.98% Matthew Holland
FEC H8MS03208
Total 257,271 100.00%  

Incumbent - 115th Congress
CD 4
Seat up for regular election
Republican Congressman Steven McCarty Palazzo
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2018
First elected: 2010
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018
Renominated
 Candidate list (3) - 116th Congress
  Elected Republican 152,633 68.22% Congressman Steven McCarty Palazzo
FEC H0MS04120; 26 Nov 18; Tot $767,558; Dsb $723,797
  Candidate Democratic 68,787 30.75% state Representative Jeramey DeWayne Anderson
FEC H8MS04438; 26 Nov 18; Tot $152,500; Dsb $151,638
  Candidate Reform 2,312 1.03% Lajena Sheets
FEC H6MS03194
Total 223,732 100.00%  

Secretary of State  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2015, 2019

  Republican Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann
First elected: 2007; re-elected: 2011, 2015
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 5 November 2019
Open Seat - 8 March 2018: Running for Lieutenant Governor in 2019.

Attorney General  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2015, 2019

  Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood
First elected: 2003; re-elected: 2007, 2011, 2015
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 5 November 2019
Open Seat - 1 October 2018: Will run for Governor in 2019.
 Candidate list (2)
  Candidate Republican     state Representative Mark Baker
  Candidate Republican     Treasurer Lynn Fitch

Treasurer  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2015, 2019

  Republican Treasurer Lynn Fitch
First elected: 2011; re-elected: 2015.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 5 November 2019
Open Seat - 14 March 2018: Announced she would run for Attorney General in 2019.
 Candidate list (1)
  Candidate Republican     David McRae

Auditor of Public Accounts  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2015, 2019

  Republican Auditor of Public Accounts Shadrack "Shad" White
Appointed 6 July 2018 [re: 15 July resignation of Stacey E. Pickering]
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 5 November 2019
 6 July 2018: Governor Phil Bryant (Republican) appointed Shad White (Republican) to fill the remainder of the term when the office becomes vacant.
Auditor of Public Accounts Stacey E. Pickering (Republican), who was first elected in 2007 and re-elected in 2011 and 2015, resigned on 15 July 2018 to become head of the Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board.

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2015, 2019

  Republican Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson
Appointed: 2 April 2018 [re: resignation of Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican) who was appointed by Governor Phil Bryant (Republican) to the U.S. Senate Class 2 seat.]
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 5 November 2019
 21 March 2018: Governor Phil Bryant (Republican) announced that upon Senator Thad Cochran's (Republican) 1 April resigation, he will appoint state Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican) to the Senate Class 2 Seat.
2 April 2018: Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican), who was first elected in 2011 and re-elected in 2015, resigned.
29 March 2018: Governor Phil Bryant (Republican) named state Representative Andy Gipson (Republican) as Mississippi's Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce. He will serve the remainder of the current term which ends in January 2020.
2 April 2018: Andy Gipson is sworn as Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce.

Commissioner of Insurance  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2015, 2019

  Republican Insurance Commissioner Michael Jackson "Mike" Chaney
First elected: 2007; re-elected: 2011, 2015
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 5 November 2019
 

Political Parties    Parties appear in parenthesis and italics when a candidate receives the endorsement of a given Party and/or official sources indicate a candidate's association with a particular Party but only where the Party in question does not appear on the actual ballot as such.

Major Parties   Those parties which received electoral votes through winning a plurality of a state's [or the District of Columbia's] popular vote in any presidential election between 1984 and 2016. See Classification of Political parties.
  Democratic (affiliates): 2 incumbents, 9 candidates
  Republican: 13 incumbents, 10 candidates
Major Third Parties   Any Party, other than a Major Party, receiving a minimum of 15/100ths of 1 percent of the nationwide popular vote in any presidential election between 1984 and 2016. See Classification of Political parties.
  Libertarian: 1 candidate
  Reform (affiliates): 5 candidates
Independents
  Independent: 1 candidate
  Nonpartisan: 2 candidates
 
Candidates running under the banner of more than one party are counted towards each party's total. A candidate who has lost a primary or is apparently no longer a candidate is not counted.

Notes

Candidates for office appear on this page in italics where 'The Green Papers' does not yet have independent confirmation from a legal election authority that the person has been officially certified to appear on the ballot.

Primary dates marked "presumably" and polling times marked "reportedly" are based on unofficial or estimated data (especially as regards local variations from a jurisdictionwide statutory and/or regulatory standard) and are, thereby, subject to change.

"FEC" indicates the Federal Election Commission (FEC) Campaign Finance Summary.

When available, we post each candidate's FEC identification number, the date of their most recently filed Report of Receipts and Disbursements, their "Tot" [Total Receipts (contributions received or what came in: FEC Form 3, Line 16, Column B)] and their "Dsb" [Total Disbursements (expenditures or what was spent: FEC Form 3, Line 23, Column B)]. A link is provided to the Federal Election Commission's Summary Report for those who might wish to explore the details.

If a candidate raises or spends $5,000 or less, he or she is not subject to FEC reporting requirements.


 


  2018 General Election Home  
 
  116th U.S. Senate Popular Vote and FEC Total Receipts by Party  
  Gubernatorial Popular Vote by Party  
  116th U.S. House Popular Vote and FEC Total Receipts by Party  
  Close Contests Summary - Decision by 2% or less  
  Contests Where No Candidate Received a Majority  
 
2018 Primaries and Runoffs for Statewide offices/Congress
  Alphabetically   --   Alphabetically with Filing Deadlines  
  Chronologically   --   Chronologically with Filing Deadlines  
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General Election Poll Closing Times (with time zones)
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Poll Closing Times (list)
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  Senators by 'Class'  
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  Gubernatorial Primaries at a Glance   --   Senatorial Primaries at a Glance  
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  Open Governor's Chairs, Senate and House Seats (the incumbent is not running for re-election)  
  Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats with no incumbent running for them  
  Uncontested Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats (one candidate running for office)  
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  Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats with only one major party candidate running for office  
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  2018 Partisan Composition by State  
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  Political Parties  
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  Senate Electoral Classes  
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  Statewide Political Party Strength going into the 2018 Midterm Elections  
  Relative Political Party Strength by SECTION and Region going into the 2018 Midterm Election  
  Weighted Relative Political Party Strength by SECTION and Region  
  2018 Congressional Party Breakdown by Region  
  2018 STATE EXECUTIVE/LEGISLATIVE Political Party Breakdown by SECTION and Region  
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  Comparative Political Party Predominance in each State, 2000 thru 2016  
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History
  Political Party Floor Leaders in the Congress of the United States  
  Dates of DIRECT PRIMARY Elections re: Major Party Nominations for Statewide and/or Federal Office  
  Length of Terms of Office of STATE Governors throughout American History  
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  (downloads)