Mississippi state legislative special elections, 2015
In 2015, one seat was vacated and filled by a special election in the Mississippi State Legislature. The following district had a vacancy in 2015:
- State House District 45: The seat was vacant following Bennett Malone's (D) retirement on February 12, 2015.
Breakdown of 2015 special elections
In 2015, the reasons prompting state legislative special elections were as follows:
- 38 due to appointment, election or seeking election to another position
- 14 due to a retirement
- 15 due to the incumbent accepting another job
- 1 due to an invalidated 2014 election result
- 1 due to a disqualification in the 2014 elections
- 9 due to a death
- 6 due to legal issues
- 3 due to moving
- 2 due to filling a remaining term
The partisan breakdown for vacancies were as follows:
- 42 Democratic seats
- 46 Republican seats
- 1 Independent seat
Note: This table reflects information for elections that were held and not total vacant seats.
| Partisan Change from Special Elections | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of Vacancy | After Special Election | |
| Democratic Party | 42 | 38* | |
| Republican Party | 46 | 50* | |
| Independent | 1 | 1 | |
| Total | 89 | 89 | |
*In 2015, Democrats lost nine seats in special elections, but gained six seats. Republicans lost five seats in special elections, but gained eight seats.
*Although Edwin Gomes won election to the Connecticut State Senate as a Working Families Party candidate, after swearing in he was listed as a Democratic senator.
*Although Diane Richardson won election to the New York State Assembly as a Working Families Party candidate, after swearing in she was listed as a Democratic representative.
*Although Jay Mathis won election to the Mississippi House of Representatives as a Nonpartisan candidate, after swearing in he was listed as a Republican representative.
How vacancies are filled
If there is a vacancy in the Mississippi State Legislature, a special election is required to fill the vacant seat. The governor must call for an election no later than 30 days after the vacancy happened. After the governor sets the election date, the counties conducting the election must be given at least 60 days' notice before the election. All qualifying deadlines are 50 days before the election.[1]
The governor can choose not to issue a writ of election if the vacancy occurs in the same calendar year as the general election for state officials.[1]
See sources: Mississippi Code Ann. § 23-15-851
Special elections
May 5, 2015
| ☑ Mississippi House of Representatives District 45 | |
|---|---|
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Jay Mathis was the only candidate who signed up to run in the May 5 special election. Since he was the only candidate, the state Board of Election Commissioner cancelled the May 5 special election and declared Mathis the winner. This election was nonpartisan, but Mathis is a Republican.[2][3] The seat was vacant following Bennett Malone's (D) retirement on February 12, 2015.[4] A special election for the position of Mississippi House of Representatives District 45 was scheduled for May 5. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 6.[5]
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See also
- State legislative special elections, 2015
- Mississippi State Senate elections, 2015
- Mississippi House of Representatives elections, 2015
- Mississippi State Senate elections, 2011
- Mississippi House of Representatives elections, 2011
- Mississippi State Legislature
- Mississippi state legislative special elections: 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Justia US Law, "2020 Mississippi Code," accessed February 6, 2023 (Statute 23-15-851)
- ↑ Mississippi Secretary of State, "2015 Candidate Qualifying List," accessed April 7, 2015
- ↑ washingtontimes.com, "Lone candidate wins Mississippi House seat without election," accessed April 22, 2015
- ↑ WAPT, "Longtime Rep. Malone, of Carthage, retiring from Miss. House," February 12, 2015
- ↑ WTOK, "Special Election Set for District 45," March 13, 2015
