Mississippi State Senate elections
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This page displays election information for the Mississippi State Senate.
Elections
Mississippi state senators serve four-year terms, with all seats up for election every four years. Mississippi is one of only four states to hold elections during odd years, along with Louisiana, Virginia, and New Jersey.[1]
2027
- See also: Mississippi State Senate elections, 2027
Elections for the Mississippi State Senate will take place in 2027. The general election is on November 2, 2027.
2023
- See also: Mississippi State Senate elections, 2023
Elections for the Mississippi State Senate took place in 2023. The general election was on November 7, 2023. A primary was August 8, 2023, and a primary runoff was August 29, 2023. The filing deadline was February 1, 2023.
In the 2023 elections, Republicans maintained their majority and Democrats picked up one seat from 15-36 to 16-36.
| Mississippi State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 7, 2023 | After November 8, 2023 | |
| Democratic Party | 15 | 16 | |
| Republican Party | 36 | 36 | |
| Independent | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 52 | 52 | |
2019
- See also: Mississippi State Senate elections, 2019
Elections for the Mississippi State Senate took place in 2019. The primary was on August 6, 2019, the primary runoff was on August 27, and the general election was on November 5. The filing deadline for candidates was March 1, 2019.
| Mississippi State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 5, 2019 | After November 6, 2019 | |
| Democratic Party | 18 | 16 | |
| Republican Party | 31 | 36 | |
| Vacancies | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 52 | 52 | |
2015
- See also: Mississippi State Senate elections, 2015
Elections for the Mississippi State Senate took place in 2015. A primary election was held on August 4, 2015, and the general election was held on November 3, 2015. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 27, 2015.[2] The 2015 election did not change the partisan count of the chamber.
| Mississippi State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2015 | After November 3, 2015 | |
| Democratic Party | 20 | 20 | |
| Republican Party | 32 | 32* | |
| Total | 52 | 52 | |
In District 37, Robert Dearing (D) defeated incumbent Melanie Sojourner (R) by 64 votes. Sojourner formally challenged the outcome of the general election, claiming that there were irregularities at the polls. A Senate committee took up the challenge in January, and the chamber voted 47-3 to seat Dearing.[3][4]
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2011
Elections for the office of Mississippi State Senate took place in 2011. The primary election was held on August 2, 2011, and the general election was held on November 2, 2011. All 52 seats were up for election. Heading into the election, Republicans held a 27-24 majority with one vacancy. Republicans gained four seats in the election, giving them a 31-21 majority.
During the 2011 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $4,706,378. The top 10 contributors were:[5]
2007
Elections for the office of Mississippi State Senate consisted of a primary election on August 7, 2007, and a general election on November 6, 2007. All 52 seats were up for election. During the 2007 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $5,740,791. The top 10 contributors were:[6]
2003
Elections for the office of Mississippi State Senate consisted of a primary election on August 5, 2003, and a general election on November 4, 2003. All 52 seats were up for election. During the 2003 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $3,676,844. The top 10 contributors were:[7]
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Historical party control
Republicans won control of the Mississippi State Senate in 2011. In 2023, they won a 36-16 majority.
The table below shows the partisan history of the Mississippi Senate following every general election from 1991 to 2023. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
Mississippi State Senate election results: 1991-2023
| Party | 91 | 95 | 99 | 03 | 07[8] | 11 | 15 | 19 | 23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 39 | 34 | 34 | 27 | 28 | 21 | 20 | 16 | 16 |
| Republicans | 13 | 18 | 18 | 24 | 24 | 31 | 32 | 36 | 36 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Trifecta history
A state government trifecta is a term that describes single party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Between 1992 and 2023, Mississippi was under the following types of trifecta control:
- Democratic trifecta: 2000-2003
- Republican trifecta: 2012-2023
- Divided government: 1992-1999, 2004-2011
Mississippi Party Control: 1992-2025
Four years of Democratic trifectas • Fourteen years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Senate | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R[9] | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| House | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
Footnotes
- ↑ The Thicket, "Why do four states have odd-year elections?" August 25, 2011
- ↑ Mississippi Secretary of State, "2015 Elections Calendar," accessed December 2, 2014
- ↑ Associated Press, "Sojourner challenges Mississippi Senate loss to Dearing," December 4, 2015
- ↑ Daily Journal, "Dearing seated as Legislature inches closer to taking up bills," January 19, 2016
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Mississippi 2011 - Candidates," accessed July 29, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Mississippi 2007 - Candidates," accessed July 29, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Mississippi 2003 - Candidates," accessed July 29, 2014
- ↑ Republicans gained a majority in 2007 when two Democratic state senators switched their party affiliation. Democrats regained the majority as a result of the 2007 elections.
- ↑ Republicans gained a majority in 2007 when two Democratic state senators switched their party affiliation. Democrats regained the majority as a result of the 2007 elections.
