2015 Mississippi elections

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, necessary if no candidate wins a majority of the vote, to be held on August 25, 2015. The filing deadline for primary ballot access was February 27.

Elections in Mississippi

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
Mississippi lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2015
November 3, 2015
 
Nominee Tate Reeves Tim Johnson
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 429,990 255,657
Percentage 60.45% 35.94%
County Results


Reeves:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%
Johnson:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%


Lieutenant Governor before election

Tate Reeves
Republican

 Elected Lieutenant Governor

Tate Reeves
Republican

Incumbent Republican Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves is running for re-election to a second term in office. He is being 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,[6] but none did so.

Two candidates filed for the Democratic nomination: actor and candidate for Mayor of Greenwood in 2013 Jelani Barr[7] and former Republican State Senator and former Republican Madison County Supervisor Tim Johnson.[8][9][10][11] Mississippi Public Service Commissionner Brandon Presley was a potential Democratic candidate[12] but is instead running for re-election.[13]

Democratic primary

Candidates
  • Jelani Barr, actor and candidate for Mayor of Greenwood in 2013[7]
  • Tim Johnson, former Republican State Senator and former Madison County Supervisor[8]

Results
Democratic primary result[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tim Johnson 221,334 75.83
Democratic Jelani Barr 70,543 24.17
Total votes 291,877 100

Republican primary

Candidates

Results
Republican primary results[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tate Reeves (incumbent) 226,964 82.54
Republican Alisha Nelson McElhenney 48,007 17.46
Total votes 274,971 100

General election

Results
Mississippi lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2015[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tate Reeves (incumbent) 429,990 60.45
Democratic Tim Johnson 255,657 35.94
Libertarian Ron Williams 16,226 2.28
Reform Rosa B. Williams 9,410 1.32
Total votes 711,283 100
Republican hold

Secretary of State
Mississippi Secretary of State election, 2015
November 3, 2015
 
Nominee Delbert Hosemann Charles Graham
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 436,313 253,307
Percentage 61.39% 35.64%
County Results

Hosemann:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%

Graham:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
Secretary of State before election

Delbert Hosemann
Republican

 Elected Secretary of State

Delbert Hosemann
Republican

Incumbent Republican Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann had 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. Had Hosemann retired or run for another office, potential Republican candidates included State Senator Michael Watson and attorney and Hosemann's former Chief of Staff Cory Wilson.[17]

Retired firefighter Charles Graham is running for the Democrats.[18] State Senator David Blount and former Secretary of State Dick Molpus were potential Democratic candidates, but neither chose to run.[17][19]

Democratic nomination

Candidate
  • Charles Graham, retired firefighter[18]

Republican primary

Candidate

Results
Republican primary results[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Delbert Hosemann (incumbent) 224,823 100
Total votes 224,823 100

General election

Results
Mississippi Secretary of State election, 2015[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Delbert Hosemann (incumbent) 436,313 61.39
Democratic Charles Graham 253,307 35.64
Reform Randy Walker 21,165 2.98
Total votes 710,785 100
Republican hold

Attorney General
2015 Mississippi Attorney General election
November 3, 2015
 
Nominee Jim Hood Mike Hurst
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 395,969 320,192
Percentage 55.29% 44.71%
County results
Hood:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      90-100%
Hurst:      50–60%      60–70%
Attorney General before election

Jim Hood
Democratic

 Elected Attorney General

Jim Hood
Democratic

Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood had been mentioned as a potential candidate for Governor, but he is instead running for re-election to a fourth term in office.[22][23][24]

The only candidate to file for the Republican nomination was Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst.[25] Attorney Russ Latino considered running[26] but declined to do so.[27] 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][17] However, none of them filed to run. State Representative Mark Baker and attorney, author and former Madison County Supervisor Andy Taggart declined to run.[28]

Democratic nomination

Candidate

Republican primary

Candidate

Results
Republican primary results[29]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Hurst 217,201 100
Total votes 217,201 100

General election

Results
Mississippi Attorney General election, 2015[30]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Hood (incumbent) 395,969 55.29
Republican Mike Hurst 320,192 44.71
Total votes 716,161 100
Democratic hold

State Auditor
Mississippi State Auditor election, 2015
November 3, 2015
 
Nominee Stacey Pickering Jocelyn Pritchett
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 453,601 245,899
Percentage 63.99% 34.69%
County Results

Pickering:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%

Pritchett:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
State Auditor before election

Stacey Pickering
Republican

 Elected State Auditor

Stacey Pickering
Republican

Incumbent Republican State Auditor Stacey Pickering is running for re-election to a third term in office.[31] Pickering is being challenged in the Republican primary by Mary Hawkins-Butler, the Mayor of Madison.[32][33] State Senator Michael Watson had considered running but did not do so.[34]

Joce Pritchett, an engineer, is running as a Democrat.[18] Charles Graham, a retired firefighter, had been running, but decided instead to run for Secretary of State.[35]

Democratic nomination

Candidate
  • Jocelyn Pritchett, engineer[18]

Republican primary

Candidates

Results
Republican primary results[36]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stacey Pickering (incumbent) 184,853 67.79
Republican Mary Hawkins-Butler 87,815 32.21
Total votes 272,668 100

General election

Results
Mississippi State Auditor election, 2015[37]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stacey Pickering (incumbent) 453,601 63.99
Democratic Jocelyn Pritchett 245,899 34.69
Reform Lajena Walley 9,380 1.32
Total votes 708,880 100
Republican hold

State Treasurer
Mississippi State Treasurer election, 2015
November 3, 2015
 
Nominee Lynn Fitch Viola V. McFarland
Party Republican Reform
Popular vote 511,465 134,014
Percentage 79.24% 20.76%
County Results

Fitch:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

McFarland:      50–60%
State Treasurer before election

Lynn Fitch
Republican

 Elected State Treasurer

Lynn Fitch
Republican

Incumbent Republican State Treasurer Lynn Fitch is running for re-election to a second term in office.[31] Attorney David McRae, whose family formerly owned the McRae's department store chain, is running against Fitch in the Republican primary.[38]

No Democrat filed to run for the office.

Republican primary

Candidates

Results
Republican primary results[39]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lynn Fitch (incumbent) 155,379 57.57
Republican David McRae 114,510 42.43
Total votes 269,889 100

General election

Results
Mississippi State Treasurer election, 2015[40]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lynn Fitch (incumbent) 511,465 79.24
Reform Viola V. McFarland 134,014 20.76
Total votes 645,479 100
Republican hold

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce
Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce election, 2015
November 3, 2015
 
Nominee Cindy Hyde-Smith Addie Lee Green
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 433,295 256,766
Percentage 61.47% 36.43%
Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce before election

Cindy Hyde-Smith
Republican

 Elected Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce

Cindy Hyde-Smith
Republican

Incumbent Republican Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Cindy Hyde-Smith is running for re-election to a second term in office[31]

Addie Lee Green is running as a Democrat.[18]

Democratic nomination

Candidate

Republican primary

Candidate

Results
Republican primary results[41]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith (incumbent) 214,643 100
Total votes 214,643 100

General election

Results
Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, 2015[42]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith (incumbent) 433,295 61.47
Democratic Addie L. Green 256,766 36.43
Reform Cathy L. Toole 14,852 2.11
Total votes 704,913 100
Republican hold

Commissioner of Insurance
Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance election, 2015
November 3, 2015
 
Nominee Mike Chaney
Party Republican
Popular vote 585,257
Percentage 100%
Commissioner of Insurance before election

Mike Chaney
Republican

 Elected Commissioner of Insurance

Mike Chaney
Republican

Incumbent Republican Commissioner of Insurance Mike Chaney is running for re-election to a third term in office.[31][43] Businessman John Mosley is running against Chaney in the Republican primary.[6]

Former State Representative and Director of the Mississippi Democratic Trust Brandon Jones was a possible Democratic candidate.[43] No Democrat filed to run for the office.

Republican primary

Candidates

Results
Republican primary results[44]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Chaney (incumbent) 196,361 72.61
Republican John Mosley 74,066 27.39
Total votes 270,427 100

General election

Results
Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance election, 2015[45]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Chaney (incumbent) 585,257 100
Total votes 585,257 100
Republican hold

Public Service Commission

Northern District

Incumbent Democratic Commissioner Brandon Presley had considered running for Governor and Lieutenant Governor,[31] but decided not to and is running for re-election to a third term in office.[13]

Mike Maynard is running as a Republican.[18]

Central District

Incumbent Republican Commissioner Lynn Posey is retiring rather than run for re-election to a third term in office.[46]

For the Republicans, Brent Bailey and attorney and candidate for Governor in 2003 Mitch Tyner are running.[47][48] 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[46] Neither filed to run.

Bruce Burton and State Representative Cecil Brown are running for the Democrats.[47][49] Robert Amos originally qualified as a Democratic candidate for this seat, but switched to run for the Central District of the Transportation Commission.[47]

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,[50][51] is not running for election to a full term in office.[43] Sam Britton and State Senator Tony Smith are running for the Republican nomination.[47] State Senator Philip Moran and Hancock County Supervisor Steve Seymour ruled out running and 2011 candidate Travis Rose chose not to run again.[43]

Thomas Blanton was a potential Democratic candidate but he did not file and neither did any other Democrat.[19]

Transportation Commission

Northern District

Incumbent Republican Mike Tagert, who won a special election in 2011 following the death of Democratic Commissioner Bill Minor, is running for re-election to a second full term in office.[47] He is also running in the May 2015 special election for Mississippi's 1st congressional district. Hernando Mayor Chip Johnson has announced that he is running for the Republican nomination. An ally of Tagert, he will withdraw from the race if Tagert does not win the Congressional election.[52]

No Democrat filed to run for this seat.

Central District

Incumbent Republican Commissioner Dick Hall, who was appointed to the Commission in 1999, is running for re-election to a fifth full term in office.[47]

Robert Amos is running for the Democrats.[47] Former Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson, Jr. was a potential Democratic candidate, but he did not run.[19]

Southern District

Incumbent Republican Commissioner Tom King is running for re-election to a second term in office.[53]

Chad Toney is running for the Democrats.[47]

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.[54] 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.[55]

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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. Wagster Pettus, Emily (February 26, 2015). "Bryant to face primary challenge from Mitch Young". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  8. Sam R. Hall (February 4, 2015). "GOPer Tim Johnson to run for Lt. Gov. as Democrat". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
  9. Steve Benen (February 6, 2015). "Why a Mississippi Republican is now a Democrat". MSNBC. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  10. Susie Madrak (February 6, 2015). "Republican Switches Parties Over Mississippi Refusal To Expand Medicaid". Crooks and Liars. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  11. Wilson Stribling; Courtney Ann Jackson (February 5, 2015). "Tim Johnson switching parties, running for lieutenant governor". MSNewsNow. Archived from the original on February 6, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  12. Geoff Pender (November 11, 2014). "Presley fundraising fuels '15 gubernatorial talk". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  13. Jimmie E. Gates (December 30, 2014). "Brandon Presley says he isn't running for governor". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
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  16. "2015 General Election". Mississippi Secretary of State. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  17. Geoff Pender (September 15, 2014). "Pender: Who might run for what and why". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
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  28. Alan Lange (January 29, 2015). "With Taggart and Baker not running for AG, Republican field wide open". Y'all Politics. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
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  37. "2015 General Election". Mississippi Secretary of State. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  38. Emily Wagster Pettus (January 27, 2015). "Attorney McRae challenging treasurer Fitch in GOP primary". Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
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  46. Geoff Pender (December 30, 2014). "Posey won't seek re-election to PSC". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  47. Perry, Brian (February 25, 2015). "Qualifying deadline Friday". The Neshoba Democrat. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  48. 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.
  49. Warren Kulo (November 11, 2014). "Jackson lawmaker running for utility commission". WAPT. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  50. "Leonard Bentz to resign from Public Service Commission to head planning district". Gulf Live. August 7, 2014. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  51. Warren Kulo (September 3, 2014). "Former Chevron exec Steve Renfroe of Moss Point new Public Service Commissioner (updated)". Gulf Live. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  52. Long, Robert Lee (February 24, 2015). "Johnson seeks Transportation Post". DeSoto Times-Tribune. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  53. "Tom King seeking re-election as MDOT's Southern District Commissioner". Gulf Live. January 19, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  54. "Alan Nunnelee, Mississippi congressman, dies at 56". Clarion-Ledger. February 6, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  55. Cahn, Emily (June 2, 2015). "Kelly Wins Runoff for Mississippi House Seat". Roll Call.
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