2023 Mississippi elections

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2023 Mississippi elections

← 2019
2027 →

The 2023 Mississippi elections took place on November 7, 2023, with the primary on August 8 and any required runoffs on August 29.[1] All executive offices in the state up for election, as well as all 52 seats of the Mississippi State Senate, all 122 seats in the Mississippi House of Representatives, and many local offices. The qualifying deadline for all 2023 Mississippi races was February 1, 2023.[2]

Special elections also took place during the year.

State House of Representatives[edit]

State senate[edit]

Governor[edit]

Lieutenant governor[edit]

One-term Republican incumbent Delbert Hosemann was elected in 2019 with 60% of the vote. He ran for re-election.[3]

Republican state senator Chris McDaniel also announced his candidacy, challenging Hosemann.[4]

Republicans Shane Quick (who ran against Hosemann in 2019) and Tiffany Longino also filed for the race,[3] as did Democrat D. Ryan Grover, a former candidate for the Oxford Board of Aldermen.[3]

Secretary of state[edit]

Mississippi Secretary of State election, 2023

← 2019 November 7, 2023 (2023-11-07) 2027 →
 
Nominee Michael Watson Ty Pinkins
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 481,895 328,067
Percentage 59.5% 40.5%

County results
Watson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Pinkins:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Secretary of State before election

Michael Watson
Republican

Elected Secretary of State

Michael Watson
Republican

After considering challenging Tate Reeves in the 2023 Mississippi gubernatorial election,[5] Michael Watson instead decided to run for re-election as Secretary of State.[6]

Former Mississippi Secretary of State Staffer and 2022 Democratic nominee for Mississippi's 3rd congressional district Shuwaski Young announced his bid to unseat Watson.[3]

Republican primary[edit]

Candidate[edit]

Results[edit]

Republican primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Michael Watson (incumbent) 351,774 100.00%
Total votes 351,774 100.00%

Democratic primary[edit]

Candidate[edit]

Results[edit]

Democratic primary results[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Shuwaski Young 152,115 100.00%
Total votes 152,115 100.00%

Democratic State Central Committee selection[edit]

In August 2023, Shuwaski Young withdrew his candidacy from the race for secretary of state, citing "a hypertensive crisis that was limiting his ability to campaign." On September 7, the Mississippi Democratic Party nominated Ty Pinkins, an attorney and military veteran, as the replacement nominee for the November ballot.[9]

General election[edit]

Polling[edit]

Hypothetical polling
Michael Watson vs. Shuwaski Young
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
Michael
Watson (R)
Shuwaski
Young (D)
Other Undecided
Mississippi Today/Siena College August 20–28, 2023 650 (LV) ± 4.0% 56% 33% 1%[b] 10%

Results[edit]

2023 Mississippi Secretary of State election[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Michael Watson (incumbent) 481,895 59.50% +0.67%
Democratic Ty Pinkins 328,067 40.50% –0.67%
Total votes 809,962 100.0%
Republican hold

Attorney general[edit]

Mississippi Attorney General election, 2023

← 2019 November 7, 2023 2027 →
 
Nominee Lynn Fitch Greta Kemp Martin
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 470,870 339,948
Percentage 58.1% 41.9%

County results
Fitch:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Martin:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Attorney General before election

Lynn Fitch
Republican

Elected Attorney General

Lynn Fitch
Republican

One-term Republican incumbent Lynn Fitch was elected in 2019 with 57.83% of the vote, becoming the state's first Republican attorney general since 1878.[3] She ran for re-election.[3]

Democratic attorney and Disability Rights Mississippi Litigation Director Greta Kemp Martin ran to challenge Fitch.[3]

Republican primary[edit]

Candidate[edit]

Results[edit]

Republican primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lynn Fitch (incumbent) 350,670 100.00%
Total votes 350,670 100.00%

Democratic primary[edit]

Candidate[edit]

  • Greta Kemp Martin, attorney and Disability Rights Mississippi Litigation Director[3]

Results[edit]

Democratic primary results[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Greta Kemp Martin 152,682 100.00%
Total votes 152,682 100.00%

General election[edit]

Endorsements[edit]

Lynn Fitch (R)

Polling[edit]

Lynn Fitch vs. Greta Martin
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
Lynn
Fitch (R)
Greta
Martin (D)
Other Undecided
Mississippi Today/Siena College August 20–28, 2023 650 (LV) ± 4.0% 54% 35% 2%[c] 9%

Results[edit]

2023 Mississippi Attorney General election[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Lynn Fitch (incumbent) 470,870 58.07% +0.24%
Democratic Greta Kemp Martin 339,948 41.93% –0.24%
Total votes 810,818 100.0%
Republican hold

State auditor[edit]

Mississippi State Auditor election, 2023

← 2019 November 7, 2023 2027 →
 
Nominee Shad White Larry Bradford
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 474,313 334,418
Percentage 58.6% 41.4%

County results
White:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Bradford:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

State Auditor before election

Shad White
Republican

Elected State Auditor

Shad White
Republican

Incumbent Republican Shad White was appointed as auditor in 2018, winning his first full term unopposed in 2019. White ran for re-election.[3]

The mayor of Anguilla, Democrat Larry Bradford, challenged White in the general election.[4]

Republican primary[edit]

Candidate[edit]

Results[edit]

Republican primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Shad White (incumbent) 347,921 100.00%
Total votes 347,921 100.00%

Democratic primary[edit]

Candidate[edit]

Results[edit]

Democratic primary results[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Larry Bradford 153,039 100.00%
Total votes 153,039 100.00%

General election[edit]

Results[edit]

2023 Mississippi State Auditor election[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Shad White (incumbent) 474,313 58.65% N/A
Democratic Larry Bradford 334,418 41.35% N/A
Total votes 808,731 100.0%
Republican hold

State treasurer[edit]

Mississippi State Treasurer election, 2023

← 2019 November 7, 2023 2027 →
 
Nominee David McRae Addie Lee Green
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 472,705 337,008
Percentage 58.4% 41.6%

County results
McRae:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Green:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

State Treasurer before election

David McRae
Republican

Elected State Treasurer

David McRae
Republican

One-term Republican incumbent David McRae was elected in 2019 with 60.8% of the vote. He ran for re-election,[3] and was unopposed in the Republican primary.[4][3]

McRae faced a rematch in the general election, as former member of the Bolton Board of Aldermen Addie Lee Green was the only Democrat to announce a run.[4] Lee Green received 39.2% of the vote in 2019.

Republican primary[edit]

Candidate[edit]

Results[edit]

Republican primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David McRae (incumbent) 349,800 100.00%
Total votes 349,800 100.00%

Democratic primary[edit]

Candidate[edit]

  • Addie Lee Green, former member of the Bolton Board of Aldermen[4]

Results[edit]

Democratic primary results[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Addie Lee Green 153,149 100.00%
Total votes 153,149 100.00%

General election[edit]

Results[edit]

2023 Mississippi State Treasurer election[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican David McRae (incumbent) 472,705 58.38% -2.42%
Democratic Addie Lee Green 337,008 41.62% +2.42%
Total votes 784,866 100.0%
Republican hold

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce[edit]

Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce election, 2023

← 2019 November 7, 2023 2027 →
 
Nominee Andy Gipson Robert Bradford
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 467,901 342,172
Percentage 57.8% 42.2%

County results
Gipson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Bradford:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Agriculture Commissioner before election

Andy Gipson
Republican

Elected Agriculture Commissioner

Andy Gipson
Republican

Two-term Republican incumbent Andy Gipson was re-elected in 2019 with 58.7% of the vote. Gipson ran for re-election,[16] and was the only Republican on the ballot.[4]

Republican primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Results[edit]

Republican primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Andy Gipson (incumbent) 351,194 100.00%
Total votes 351,194 100.00%

Democratic primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

  • Robert Bradford, Director of Natchez-Adams County Homeland Security Program, Floodplain Management Program, Emergency 9-1-1 Coordinator, and Emergency Management Agency.[4][17]
  • Bethany Hill, executive director of the Mississippi Women's Cannabis Chamber of Commerce[4]
  • Terry Rogers II, college student[4]

Withdrawn or disqualified[edit]

  • Robert Briggs[4]

Results[edit]

Democratic primary results[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert Bradford 97,717 51.75%
Democratic Bethany Hill 49,032 25.97%
Democratic Terry Rogers II 42,079 22.28%
Total votes 188,828 100.00%

General election[edit]

Results[edit]

2023 Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner election[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Andy Gipson (incumbent) 467,901 57.76% –0.94%
Democratic Robert Bradford 342,172 42.24% +0.94%
Total votes 810,073 100.0%
Republican hold

Commissioner of Insurance[edit]

Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance election, 2023

← 2019 November 7, 2023 2027 →
 
Nominee Mike Chaney Bruce Burton
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 480,514 329,214
Percentage 59.3% 40.7%

County results
Chaney:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Burton:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Insurance Commissioner before election

Mike Chaney
Republican

Elected Insurance Commissioner

Mike Chaney
Republican

Four-term Republican incumbent Mike Chaney was reelected in 2019 with 61.26% of the vote. Chaney, who also serves as the state's Fire Marshal, ran for re-election.[3][4]

Republican Mitch Young, a former US Navy Petty Officer and candidate for governor in 2015, announced a primary challenge against Chaney.[4]

Democratic attorney and 2022 Court of Appeals in District Four candidate Bruce Burton also ran.[3]

Republican primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Results[edit]

Republican primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Chaney (incumbent) 201,552 80.3%
Republican Mitch Young 49,487 19.7%
Total votes 251,039 100.00%

Democratic primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

  • Bruce Burton, attorney and candidate for Appeals Court District 4 in 2022[3]

Results[edit]

Democratic primary results[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bruce Burton 182,701 100.00%
Total votes 182,701 100.00%

General election[edit]

Results[edit]

2023 Mississippi Insurance Commissioner election[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Chaney (incumbent) 480,514 59.34% –1.92%
Democratic Bruce Burton 329,214 40.66% +1.92%
Total votes 809,728 100.0%
Republican hold

Public Service Commission[edit]

Northern District[edit]

Mississippi Public Service Commissioner, Northern District election, 2023

← 2019 November 7, 2023 (2023-11-07) 2027 →
 
Nominee Chris Brown
Party Republican
Popular vote 215,257
Percentage 100.0%

Northern District Commissioner before election

Brandon Presley
Democratic

Elected Northern District Commissioner

Chris Brown
Republican

Four-term Democratic Incumbent Brandon Presley was re-elected unopposed in 2019. Presley did not run for a fifth term, instead opting to run for governor.[18]

No Democrats filed to run to succeed Presley,[18] leaving the field open for two Republican challengers to run for the open seat:

Mandy Gunasekara, former Chief of Staff for the Environmental Protection Agency, was a challenger,[18] but she was removed from the ballot due to citizenship eligiblity issues.[19]

Republican primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]
Results[edit]
Republican primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Chris Brown 78,272 61.27%
Republican Tanner Newman 49,472 38.73%
Total votes 127,744 100.00%

Results[edit]

Mississippi Public Service Commissioner Northern District election, 2023[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Chris Brown 215,257 100.0 +100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

Central District[edit]

Mississippi Public Service Commissioner, Central District election, 2023

← 2019 November 7, 2023 (2023-11-07) 2027 →
 
Nominee De’Keither Stamps Brent Bailey
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 138,741 132,853
Percentage 51.1% 48.9%

County results
Stamps:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Bailey:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Central District Commissioner before election

Brent Bailey
Republican

Elected Central District Commissioner

De'Keither Stamps
Democratic

One-term Republican incumbent Brent Bailey was elected in 2019 with 50.3% of the vote. He ran for re-election.[4]

Bailey's 2019 Democratic opponent, current state representative De’Keither Stamps, faced him again in a rematch.[4]

Democratic primary[edit]

Candidate[edit]
Results[edit]
Democratic primary results[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic De’Keither Stamps 52,152 100.00%
Total votes 52,152 100.00%

Republican primary[edit]

Candidate[edit]
Results[edit]
Republican primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brent Bailey (incumbent) 85,778 100.00%
Total votes 85,778 100.00%

Results[edit]

Mississippi Public Service Commissioner Central District election, 2023[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic De’Keither Stamps 138,741 51.1 +1.4
Republican Brent Bailey (incumbent) 132,853 48.9 –1.4
Total votes 271,594 100.00
Democratic gain from Republican

Southern District[edit]

Mississippi Public Service Commissioner, Southern District election, 2023

← 2019 November 7, 2023 (2023-11-07) 2027 →
 
Nominee Nelson Wayne Carr
Party Republican
Popular vote 216,698
Percentage 100.0%

Southern District Commissioner before election

Dane Maxwell
Republican

Elected Southern District Commissioner

Nelson Wayne Carr
Republican

One-term Republican Incumbent Dane Maxwell was elected in 2019 with 62.6% of the vote. Maxwell was challenged in the primary by Nelson Wayne Carr and lost.[4]

Republican primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]
Results[edit]
Republican primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Nelson Wayne Carr 76,162 52.89%
Republican Dane Maxwell (incumbent) 67,849 47.11%
Total votes 144,011 100.00%

Results[edit]

Mississippi Public Service Commissioner Southern District election, 2023[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Nelson Wayne Carr 216,698 100.0 +37.4
Total votes 216,698 100.0
Republican hold

Transportation Commission[edit]

Northern District[edit]

Mississippi Transportation Commissioner, Northern District election, 2023

← 2019 November 7, 2023 (2023-11-07) 2027 →
 
Nominee John Caldwell
Party Republican
Popular vote 214,325
Percentage 100.0%

Northern District Commissioner before election

John Caldwell
Republican

Elected Northern District Commissioner

John Caldwell
Republican

One-term Republican Incumbent John Caldwell was elected in 2019 with 63.2% of the vote. He ran for re-election unopposed.[21]

Republican primary[edit]

Candidate[edit]
Results[edit]
Republican primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Caldwell (incumbent) 120,678 100.00%
Total votes 120,678 100.00%

Results[edit]

Mississippi Transportation Commissioner Northern District election, 2023[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican John Caldwell (incumbent) 214,325 100.0 +36.8
Total votes 214,325 100.0
Republican hold

Central District[edit]

Mississippi Transportation Commissioner, Central District election, 2023

← 2019 November 7, 2023 (2023-11-07) 2027 →
 
Nominee Willie Simmons Ricky Pennington Jr.
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 150,296 121,866
Percentage 55.2% 44.8%

Pennington:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Simmons:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Central District Commissioner before election

Willie Simmons
Democratic

Elected Central District Commissioner

Willie Simmons
Democratic

One-term Democrat Incumbent Willie Simmons was elected in 2019 with 51.1% of the vote. He ran for re-election.[22]

Ricky Pennington Jr., a Republican, also ran for the seat.[22]

Democratic primary[edit]

Candidate[edit]
Results[edit]
Democratic primary results[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Willie Simmons (incumbent) 54,638 100.00%
Total votes 54,638 100.00%

Republican primary[edit]

Candidate[edit]
  • Ricky Pennington Jr., candidate for this district in 2019[22]
Results[edit]
Republican primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ricky Pennington Jr. 85,180 100.00%
Total votes 85,180 100.00%

Results[edit]

Mississippi Transportation Commissioner Central District election, 2023[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Willie Simmons (incumbent) 150,296 55.2 +4.1
Republican Ricky Pennington Jr. 121,866 44.8 -4.1
Total votes 272,162 100.0
Democratic hold

Southern District[edit]

Mississippi Transportation Commissioner, Southern District election, 2023

← 2019 November 7, 2023 (2023-11-07) 2027 →
 
Nominee Charles Busby Steven Brian Griffin
Party Republican Independent
Popular vote 177,277 69,685
Percentage 71.8% 28.2%

Bubsy:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Griffin:      50–60%

Southern District Commissioner before election

Tom King
Republican

Elected Southern District Commissioner

Charles Busby
Republican

Three-term Republican incumbent Tom King won re-election unopposed in 2019. On November 16, 2022, King announced he would not seek re-election.[23]

Republican state representative for the 111th District Charles Busby[22] ran against Independent Steven Brian Griffin.[22]

Republican primary[edit]

Candidate[edit]
Results[edit]
Republican primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Charles Busby 140,425 100.00%
Total votes 140,425 100.00%

Results[edit]

Mississippi Transportation Commissioner Southern District election, 2023[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Charles Busby 177,277 71.8 -28.2
Independent Steven Brian Griffin 69,685 28.2 +28.2
Total votes 246,962 100.0
Republican hold

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ^ "Not going to vote" with 1%
  3. ^ "Not going to vote" with 2%

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Mississippi elections, 2023". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  2. ^ Watson, Michael. "Press Releases & Columns". Mississippi Secretary of State. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "The field is set for 2023 Elections in Mississippi. See who is running in statewide races". Yahoo! News. The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Harrison, Bobby (February 2, 2023). "Who's running for Mississippi statewide offices in 2023". Mississippi Today. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  5. ^ Vance, Taylor (December 17, 2022). "Secretary of State Michael Watson mulls move to oust Gov. Tate Reeves". Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Perlis, Wicker (January 19, 2023). "Secretary of State Michael Watson announces 2023 run for reelection". Clarion Ledger. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "2023 Republican primary results". Mississippi Secretary of State. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h "2023 Democratic primary results". Mississippi Secretary of State. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  9. ^ Pettus, Emily Wagster (September 7, 2023). "Mississippi Democrats name Pinkins as new nominee for secretary of state, to challenge GOP's Watson". Associated Press. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "2023 General Election Results". Mississippi Secretary of State. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  11. ^ Trifone, Emily (June 20, 2023). "DAGA Endorses Greta Kemp Martin for Mississippi Attorney General". Democratic Attorneys General Association. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  12. ^ "Planned Parenthood Southeast Advocates endorses Greta Kemp Martin". DeSoto County News. August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  13. ^ "Reproductive Freedom for All Endorses in Kentucky and Mississippi Attorney General Races". Reproductive Freedom for All. October 11, 2023. Archived from the original on October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  14. ^ "Vote Mama PAC | Candidates". Vote Mama PAC. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  15. ^ Owens, Mary (June 1, 2023). "SBA Pro-Life America's Candidate Fund Endorses Pro-Life Hero AG Lynn Fitch for Re-election". SBA Pro-Life America. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  16. ^ "Ag Commissioner Andy Gipson announces re-election bid for 2023". Supertalk Mississippi. July 28, 2022. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  17. ^ "Committee to Elect Robert "Brad" Bradford". bradforagcomm24.com. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g Bedillion, Caleb (February 1, 2023). "Democrats a no-show to hold Brandon Presley's Public Service Commission seat". Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  19. ^ Vance, Taylor (May 11, 2023). "Supreme Court removes Mandy Gunasekara from Public Service Commission race". Mississippi Today. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  20. ^ Harrison, Bobby (February 2, 2023). "Who's running for Mississippi statewide offices in 2023". Mississippi Today. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  21. ^ a b Vance, Taylor (January 8, 2023). "Candidate tracker 2023: Who has qualified for Mississippi statewide, regional elections". Yahoo! News. Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g Ball, Biancca (February 3, 2023). "Who is running for Mississippi's statewide offices in 2023?". WJTV. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  23. ^ "King won't seek 4th term on Mississippi transport commission". Associated Press. November 17, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2023.