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Kathy Sykes
Kathy Sykes (Democratic Party) was a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives, representing District 70. Sykes assumed office on January 5, 2016. Sykes left office on January 7, 2020.
Sykes (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Mississippi House of Representatives to represent District 70. Sykes lost in the Democratic primary runoff on August 27, 2019.
Sykes completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.
Sykes was a 2013 candidate for District 28 of the Mississippi State Senate. Special election candidates run without party labels.[1]
Committee assignments
2019-2020
Sykes was assigned to the following committees:
- Banking and Financial Services Committee
- Interstate Cooperation Committee
- Public Health and Human Services Committee
- Public Utilities Committee
- Workforce Development Committee
- House Drug Policy Committee
- House Technology Committee
Sponsored legislation
Elections
2019
See also: Mississippi House of Representatives elections, 2019
General election
General election for Mississippi House of Representatives District 70
William Brown won election in the general election for Mississippi House of Representatives District 70 on November 5, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | William Brown (D) | 100.0 | 5,832 |
| Total votes: 5,832 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary runoff election
Democratic primary runoff for Mississippi House of Representatives District 70
William Brown defeated incumbent Kathy Sykes in the Democratic primary runoff for Mississippi House of Representatives District 70 on August 27, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | William Brown | 52.4 | 1,653 |
 | Kathy Sykes | 47.6 | 1,503 | |
| Total votes: 3,156 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Mississippi House of Representatives District 70
William Brown and incumbent Kathy Sykes advanced to a runoff. They defeated Tammy Cotton in the Democratic primary for Mississippi House of Representatives District 70 on August 6, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | William Brown | 49.4 | 1,833 |
| ✔ | | Kathy Sykes | 40.1 | 1,489 |
 | Tammy Cotton | 10.5 | 390 | |
| Total votes: 3,712 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2015
Elections for the Mississippi House of Representatives took place in 2015. A primary election was held on August 4, 2015. The general election took place on November 3, 2015. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 27, 2015.[2] Kathy Sykes and Samuel Lee Begley defeated Tammy Cotton in the Democratic primary. Sykes defeated Begley in the August 25 primary runoff. James Perry was unopposed in the Republican primary. Sykes defeated Perry in the general election.
Incumbent James Evans withdrew from the primary and announced he would not seek re-election.
| Mississippi House of Representatives, District 70 General Election, 2015 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Kathy Sykes |
85.1% | 4,286 | |
| Republican | James Perry | 14.9% | 749 | |
| Total Votes | 5,035 | |||
| Mississippi House of Representatives, District 70 Democratic Primary, 2015 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|
Kathy Sykes |
37.9% | 1,325 |
| Samuel Lee Begley |
34.5% | 1,207 |
| Tammy Cotton | 27.6% | 965 |
| Total Votes | 3,497 | |
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Mississippi scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2019
In 2019, the Mississippi State Legislature was in session from January 8 through March 29.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business and economic issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Mississippi State Legislature was in session from January 2 through March 28.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Mississippi State Legislature was in session from January 3 through March 29. There was also a special session June 5.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Mississippi State Legislature was in session from January 5 through April 21.
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2013
Sykes ran in the special election for District 28 of the Mississippi State Senate. The seat was vacant following Alice Harden's (D) death on December 6, 2012. Sykes lost against Cindy Ayers-Elliott, Tamarra Grace Butler, Marshand Crisler, Sollie B. Norwood, Antonio Porter, James "Jimmy" Stewart, Tommy L. Wallace, II and Cassanda Welchlin in the special election on February 5, 2013. Candidates had until January 7 to file. Special elections in Mississippi are nonpartisan. As no candidate took over 50 percent of the vote, the top two vote-getters - Crisler and Norwood - proceeded to a runoff.[3][4][1][5][6]
| Mississippi State Senate, District 28, Special Election, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Independent | Marshand Crisler |
25.6% | 775 | |
| Independent | Sollie Norwood |
22.3% | 675 | |
| Independent | Cindy Ayers-Elliott | 3.9% | 119 | |
| Independent | Tamarra Grace Butler | 21.6% | 652 | |
| Independent | Antonio Porter | 0.5% | 15 | |
| Independent | James "Jimmy" Stewart | 5.4% | 162 | |
| Independent | Kathy L. Sykes | 4.5% | 136 | |
| Independent | Tommy L. Wallace, II | 6.8% | 204 | |
| Independent | Cassanda Welchlin | 9.4% | 284 | |
| Total Votes | 3,022 | |||
Campaign themes
2019
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Kathy Sykes completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Sykes' responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
To Support legislation to raise the wage;To change the flag; to reform our education system.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Economic security.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
I look up to my predecessors and the activists in the neighborhoods that gets stuff done.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
The Art of War.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Trust worthiness, knowledgeable, perseverance.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
I have relationships with a lot of people.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
Sponsoring legislation that will make life better for all.
What legacy would you like to leave?
One of caring and generosity.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
Martin Luther King marched in Jackson. I was in elementary.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
Canvassing for a political candidate. It lasted a week.
What happened on your most awkward date?
I don't have one.
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
Christmas. I love the happiness and laugher of everyone as they open their gifts.
What is your favorite book? Why?
The Bible. The stories are very interesting and uplifting.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
The little mermaid.
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
The couch. It serves multiple functions including bed.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
We're not gonna take it!
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
My weight and funds.
Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?
The House has heated debate on controversial issues all the time. The Senate not so much.
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?
Yes. They don't have to be an elected official but they should know the committee process of passing legislation.
What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?
Quality education and equitable wages.
What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?
They should work together for what is in the best interest of the State without jockeying so much for the limelight.
Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.
Yes. This is very important whwn it comes time to lobby fellow legislators on bills that are important to your district.
What process do you favor for redistricting?
Legislators should not give up this important function, however, it should not be used as a means of retribution.
If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?
I am running for Re-election.
If you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees?
My committee assignments are great. Each one is very relevant to helping our constituents.
If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the legislature, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?
Party Whip or executive officer
Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?
Barbara Jordan
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2019 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mississippi Secretary of State, " 2013 candidate qualifying list," accessed January 11, 2013
- ↑ Mississippi Secretary of State, "2015 Elections Calendar," accessed December 2, 2014
- ↑ Clarion Ledger, "State Sen. Alice Harden dies at 64," December 6, 2012
- ↑ Clarion Ledger, "Bryant sets Senate 28 special election," December 18, 2012
- ↑ Fox 10tv.com, "Runoff scheduled in Senate District 28," February 6, 2013 (dead link)
- ↑ sos.ms.gov, "Official special election results," accessed November 15, 2013
