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Mississippi's 4th Congressional District elections, 2014

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Mississippi's 4th Congressional District
General Election Date
November 4, 2014
Primary Date
June 3, 2014
November 4 Election Winner:
Steven Palazzo Republican Party
Incumbent prior to election:
Steven Palazzo Republican Party
Steven Palazzo.jpg
Race Ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid R[1]

FairVote's Monopoly Politics: Safe R[2]
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe R[3]

Mississippi U.S. House Elections
District 1 • District 2 • District 3 • District 4
2014 U.S. Senate Elections
2014 U.S. House Elections
Flag of Mississippi.png

The 4th Congressional District of Mississippi held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Steven Palazzo (R) retained his seat in Congress. He defeated challengers Matt Moore (D), Joey Robinson (L), Sarge Jackson (RP), Cindy Burleson (I) and Ed Reich (I) in the general election.[4]

After a primary election on June 3, 2014, Palazzo secured re-election to his U.S. House seat in 2014. Palazzo also faced a rematch against Matt Moore in the November general election. In 2012, Palazzo defeated Moore in the general election, by a margin of 64.1 to 28.8 percent.[5] As of the 2014 April Quarterly Federal Election Commission (FEC) reports, Moore did not report any campaign contributions. Palazzo reported $402,597.76 in cash on hand. The Cook Political Report rated Palazzo's seat as "Solid Republican."[6]

Palazzo competed against four other candidates for the Republican nomination in the primary, including former U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor. Taylor served in the U.S. House as a Democratic representative from 1989 to 2011, before changing his party affiliation to run in 2014.[7] Palazzo unseated Taylor in the 2010 general election by a 5.1 percent margin of victory. After Taylor switched to the Republican ticket, Palazzo defeated him by 7.5 percent in the 2014 Republican primary. In Mississippi, a candidate needed at least 50 percent of the vote in order to avoid a runoff election, and Palazzo earned 50.5 percent.[8][9]

Candidate Filing Deadline Primary Election General Election
March 1, 2014
June 3, 2014
November 4, 2014

Primary: A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election.

In Mississippi, primaries are open, meaning any registered voter may vote in the primary of their choice. State law says: "No person shall vote or attempt to vote in the primary election of one (1) party when he or she has voted on the same date in the primary election of another party."[10]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Voter registration: To vote in the primary, voters had to register by May 25, 2014. For the general election, the voter registration deadline was October 5, 2014.[11]

See also: Mississippi elections, 2014

Incumbent: Heading into the election the incumbent was Steven Palazzo (R), who was first elected in 2010.

Mississippi's 4th Congressional District is located in the southeastern portion of the state and includes Forrest, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Jones, Lamar, Marion, Pearl River, Perry, Stone, and Wayne counties and a portion of Clarke County.[12]

Candidates

General election candidates


June 3, 2014, primary results

Republican Party Republican Primary

Democratic Party Democratic Primary


Elections

General election results

The 4th Congressional District of Mississippi held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Steven Palazzo (R) defeated challengers Matt Moore (D), Joey Robinson (L), Sarge Jackson (RP), Cindy Burleson (I) and Ed Reich (I) in the general election.

U.S. House, Mississippi District 4 General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngSteven Palazzo Incumbent 69.9% 108,776
     Democratic Matt Moore 24.3% 37,869
     Libertarian Joey Robinson 2.2% 3,473
     Reform Eli Jackson 0.6% 917
     Independent Cindy Burleson 2.4% 3,684
     Independent Ed Reich 0.6% 857
Total Votes 155,576
Source: Mississippi Secretary of State Official Results

Primary results

U.S. House, Mississippi District 4 Republican Primary, 2014
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngSteven Palazzo Incumbent 50.5% 54,268
Gene Taylor 43% 46,133
Tom Carter 4.6% 4,955
Tavish Kelly 1.1% 1,129
Ron Vincent 0.8% 904
Total Votes 107,389
Source: Mississippi Secretary of State - Official Republican primary results
U.S. House, Mississippi District 4 Democratic Primary, 2014
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngMatt Moore 55.7% 6,355
Trish Causey 44.3% 5,063
Total Votes 11,418
Source: Mississippi Secretary of State - Official Democratic primary results

Issues

Federal aid in Mississippi

In a speech at the Biloxi Visitors Center, Gene Taylor criticized Steven Palazzo, his opponent in the primary, for voting against federal aid after Hurricane Sandy. In his speech, Taylor argued that Mississippi needed federal aid after Hurricane Katrina, highlighting the importance of federal aid for storm relief. Taylor also criticized Palazzo for wanting to cut the military budget, claiming that this would hurt military bases and thereby national defense as a whole.[13]

Endorsements

Steven Palazzo

Endorsements for incumbent Steven Palazzo included:[14]

  • Governor Phil Bryant[14]
    • “Congressman Steven Palazzo has worked hard for Mississippians in the Fourth District, and I hope he will continue to do so. I intend to support him in this campaign.”
  • Senator Thad Cochran[14]
    • “I’ve enjoyed working with Congressman Palazzo to fix the flood insurance program, help Camp Shelby and the National Guard, and tackle other issues important to the Fourth Congressional District. Steven has been a conservative voice for South Mississippi, and the seniority he has accumulated on key Congressional committees serves his district well.”
  • Senator Roger Wicker[14]
    • “Steven has been a solid member of the House Republican Majority for the last four years. The contributions he’s made to national defense and Mississippi’s economic development make him deserving of re-election.”
  • Gregg Harper, Representative for Mississippi's 3rd Congressional District[14]
    • “Steven is a proven conservative leader who has consistently fought for a strong national defense and a government that is more accountable to the people. Because of his leadership, South Mississippians will experience the full benefits of the coastal restoration and economic development projects resulting from the RESTORE Act. I urge you to join Sidney and me in supporting my friend, Steven Palazzo, for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives.”
  • Alan Nunnelee, Representative for Mississippi's 1st Congressional District[14]
    • “I have served in Congress with Steven Palazzo since 2010. Steven was sent to Washington because the values of South Mississippians were not reflected in the policies of President Obama and Speaker Pelosi. Over the past four years, Steven has worked hard to make sure the values of South Mississippians are well represented both at home and in Washington.”
  • Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves[14]
    • “Steven is the true conservative choice for South Mississippi. He’s fought for his constituents by delivering flood insurance relief and advocating for South Mississippi’s defense and aerospace installations and our many military veterans.”
  • Mississippi Speaker of the House Philip Gunn[14]
    • “I’ve known and supported Steven for many years now. I had the pleasure of working with him in the Mississippi House of Representatives. He has always been a strong conservative voice in Mississippi, and I look forward to his continued service as one of Mississippi’s Congressmen.”
  • State Auditor Stacey Pickering[14]
    • “Congressman Palazzo has been a champion for South Mississippi. Steven is an important conservative voice in Washington. As a constituent, I look forward to supporting Steven and working to re-elect him.”
  • State Treasurer Lynn Fitch[14]
    • “As a steward of Mississippi tax dollars, I deeply appreciate Steven’s work to control our nation’s out-of-control spending and reduce our crushing debt under the Obama Administration. From his days in the State Legislature to representing the Fourth Congressional District, Steven has been a consistent conservative voice. He has also been a leader in the effort to provide coast residents some relief from rising flood insurance rates. Mississippi needs Steven Palazzo in Washington.”
  • Commissioner of Agriculture Cindy Hyde-Smith[14]
    • “I have always known Congressman Palazzo to be a very hard worker, not only dedicated to his constituents but also to the State of Mississippi. Please join me in supporting Steven Palazzo.”
  • Commissioner of Insurance Mike Chaney[14]
    • “Steven Palazzo has been a stalwart supporter of our efforts to keep homeowner insurance rates reasonable for all of Mississippi, especially the coastal communities. I applaud his efforts to lead our delegation to bring common sense to the National Flood Insurance Program and help prevent draconian rate increases in flood insurance. I am deeply grateful for his continued support of Veterans. As Mississippi’s Insurance Commissioner, I enthusiastically endorse Congressman Steven Palazzo for his 2014 re-election to Congress.”

Key votes

Government affairs

HR 676

See also: Boehner's lawsuit against the Obama administration

Yea3.png On July 30, 2014, the U.S. House approved a resolution 225 to 201 to sue President Barack Obama for exceeding his constitutional authority. Five Republicans—Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Paul Broun of Georgia, Scott Garrett of New Jersey, Walter Jones of North Carolina and Steve Stockman of Texas—voted with Democrats against the lawsuit.[15] Palazzo joined the other 224 Republicans in favor of the lawsuit. All Democrats voted against the resolution.[16][17]

Campaign contributions

Steven Palazzo

Candidates for Congress were required to file up to seven main reports with the Federal Election Commission during the 2014 elections season. Below are Palazzo's reports.[18]

Tom Carter

Candidates for Congress were required to file up to seven main reports with the Federal Election Commission during the 2014 elections season. Below are Carter's reports.[24]

Tom Carter (2014) Campaign Finance Reports
ReportDate FiledBeginning BalanceTotal Contributions
for Reporting Period		ExpendituresCash on Hand
April Quarterly[25]April 15, 2014$0.00$205,328.37$(2,304.27)$203,024.10
Running totals
$205,328.37$(2,304.27)

Gene Taylor

Candidates for Congress were required to file up to seven main reports with the Federal Election Commission during the 2014 elections season. Below are Taylor's reports.[26]

Gene Taylor (2014) Campaign Finance Reports
ReportDate FiledBeginning BalanceTotal Contributions
for Reporting Period		ExpendituresCash on Hand
April Quarterly[27]April 15, 2014$0.00$83,040.86$(33,799.27)$49,241.59
Running totals
$83,040.86$(33,799.27)

Tavish Kelly

Candidates for Congress were required to file up to seven main reports with the Federal Election Commission during the 2014 elections season. Below are Kelly's reports.[28]

Tavish Kelly Campaign Finance Reports
ReportDate FiledBeginning BalanceTotal Contributions
for Reporting Period		ExpendituresCash on Hand
Year-End[29]January 15, 2014$100.00$6,659.91$(2,578.46)$4,181.45
April Quarterly[30]April 15, 2014$4,181.45$2,614.01$(2,749.09)$4,046.37
Running totals
$9,273.92$(5,327.55)

District history

Candidate ballot access
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2012

The 4th Congressional District of Mississippi held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012. Incumbent Steven Palazzo won re-election in the district.[31]

U.S. House, Mississippi District 4 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Matthew Moore 28.8% 82,344
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngSteven Palazzo Incumbent 64.1% 182,998
     Libertarian Ron Williams 0.7% 2,108
     Reform Robert W. Claunch 6.3% 17,982
Total Votes 285,432
Source: Mississippi Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

2010

On November 2, 2010, Steven Palazzo (R) won election to the United States House. He defeated Gene Talyor (D), Anna Revies (Reform) and Kenneth Hampton (L) in the general election.[32]

U.S. House, Mississippi District 4, 2010
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngSteven Palazzo 51.9% 105,613
     Democratic Gene Taylor incumbent 46.8% 95,243
     Reform Anna Jewel Revies 0.4% 787
     Libertarian Kenneth "Tim" Hampton 0.9% 1,741
Total Votes 203,384

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Cook Political Report, "2014 House Race Ratings for August 8, 2014," accessed August 25, 2014
  2. ↑ FairVote's Monopoly Politics, "2014 House Projections," accessed August 25, 2014
  3. ↑ Sabato's Crystal Ball, "2014 House Races," accessed August 25, 2014
  4. ↑ Politico, "House Election Results," accessed November 17, 2014
  5. ↑ Mississippi Secretary of State, "Total Votes Reported by County for the 2012 General Election," accessed July 1, 2014
  6. ↑ The Cook Political Report, "2014 House Race Ratings for June 26, 2014," accessed July 1, 2014
  7. ↑ Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "TAYLOR, Gary Eugene (Gene), (1953 - )," accessed July 2, 2014
  8. ↑ Politico, "Steven Palazzo holds on against Gene Taylor," accessed July 2, 2014
  9. ↑ Hattiesburg American, "Palazzo, Moore appear set for Nov. 4 Congressional tilt," accessed July 2, 2014
  10. ↑ LexisNexis, "Miss. Code Ann. § 23–15–575," accessed September 3, 2025
  11. ↑ Mississippi Secretary of State, "Mississippi Mail-in and NVRA Agency Voter Registration Application," accessed January 3, 2014
  12. ↑ Mississippi Redistricting Map, "Map," accessed August 30, 2012
  13. ↑ Sun Herald, "Taylor wastes no time going after Palazzo in Mississippi's 4th District," accessed April 3, 2014
  14. ↑ 14.00 14.01 14.02 14.03 14.04 14.05 14.06 14.07 14.08 14.09 14.10 14.11 Clarion Ledger, "Bryant, other state GOP endorse Palazzo," accessed March 15, 2014
  15. ↑ U.S. House, "House Resolution 676," accessed July 30, 2014
  16. ↑ Associated Press, "Suing Obama: GOP-led House gives the go-ahead," July 31, 2014
  17. ↑ Washington Post, "House clears way for lawsuit against Obama," accessed July 30, 2014
  18. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Palazzo 2014 Summary reports," accessed July 18, 2013
  19. ↑ FEC, "April Quarterly," accessed July 18, 2013
  20. ↑ FEC, "July Quarterly," accessed July 18, 2013
  21. ↑ FEC, "October Quarterly," accessed October 23, 2013
  22. ↑ FEC, "Year-End Quarterly," accessed February 12 2014
  23. ↑ FEC, "April Quarterly," accessed May 16, 2014
  24. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Tom Carter Summary Report," accessed April 28, 2014
  25. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Tom Carter April Quarterly," accessed April 28, 2014
  26. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Gene Taylor Summary Report," accessed April 28, 2014
  27. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Gene Taylor April Quarterly," accessed April 28, 2014
  28. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Tavish Kelly Summary Report," accessed April 28, 2014
  29. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Tavish Kelly Year-End," accessed April 28, 2014
  30. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Tavish Kelly April Quarterly," accessed April 28, 2014
  31. ↑ Politico, "2012 Election Map, Mississippi," accessed November 6, 2012
  32. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
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Mississippi's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)
Roger Wicker (R)
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
Republican Party (5)
Democratic Party (1)

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