2003 Mississippi elections

← 1999 2007 →

Elections in Mississippi
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v t e

A general election was held in Mississippi on November 4, 2003, to elect to 4 year terms all members of the state legislature (122 representatives, 52 senators), the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Treasurer, State Auditor, Secretary of State, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, and Commissioner of Insurance, plus all three members of the Transportation Commission and all three members of the Public Service Commission.

Results for the State Legislature

All 122 representatives and all 52 senators are elected for four-year terms with no term limits. The state legislature draws up separate district map for the House of Representatives and for the Senate every 10 years following each census. ^[1]

Background for statewide elections

According to Article 5, Sections 140-41 of the state constitution, the governor and the other seven statewide officers are elected if they receive a majority of electoral votes and a majority of the direct total popular vote. A candidate wins an electoral vote by winning a plurality of the votes in a state house district. With 122 House Districts, a majority of electoral votes is 62. When no candidate receives both majorities, the House of Representatives decides the election between the two persons receiving the highest number of popular votes. ^{[2] [a]}

Governor

Incumbent Democrat Ronnie Musgrove faced Republican challenger Haley Barbour as well as the Constitution Party's John Thomas Cripps, the Green Party's Sherman Lee Dillon, and the Reform Party's Shawn O'Hara. In 1999, Lieutenant Governor Musgrove, won the gubernatorial election against Republican Mike Parker, a former U.S. Representative, in a close election that necessitated the Mississippi House of Representatives to decide the outcome because of a tie in the electoral votes. Musgrove lost his re-election bid in 2003 to Barbour after a competitive race.

Results for Governor's Race [3]
Party	Candidate	Popular Votes	Pop. Vote %	Electoral Votes	Electoral Vote %
Republican	Haley Barbour	470,404	52.59%	76	62.30%
Democrat	Ronnie Musgrove	409,787	45.81%	46	37.70%
Constitution	John Thomas Cripps	6,317	0.71%	0	0.00%
Reform	Shawn O'Hara	4,070	0.46%	0	0.00%
Green	Sherman Lee Dillon	3,909	0.44%	0	0.00%
TOTAL		894,487	100.00%	122	100.0%

Lieutenant governor

Mississippi Lieutenant Gubernatorial election, 2003

← 1999 November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04) 2007 →

Nominee Amy Tuck Barbara Blackmon Party Republican Democratic Electoral vote 84 38 Popular vote 542,129 329,454 Percentage 60.98% 37.06%

County Results: Blackmon:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Tuck:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Lieutenant Governor before election Amy Tuck Republican Elected Lieutenant Governor Amy Tuck Republican

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Barbara Blackmon, state senator
• Troy D. Brown Sr., business owner ^[4]
• James L. Roberts Jr., judge on the Mississippi Supreme Court ^[5]

Results

Democratic primary results ^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Barbara Blackmon	283,177	53.7%
	Democratic	James L. Roberts, Jr.	194,204	36.9%
	Democratic	Troy D. Brown, Sr.	49,515	9.4%
Total votes			526,896	100.0

Republican nomination

Candidate

• Amy Tuck, incumbent

General election

Amy Tuck, elected to the office in 1999 as a Democrat, had switched to the Republican Party in December 2002 after taking positions on several issues, like re-districting, that opposed the state Democratic Party's stances. In her race for reelection, her challenger was Democratic State Senator Barbara Blackmon, who was the first black woman to run for a statewide race. Tuck defeated Blackmon in the election.

Results

Results for Lieutenant Governor's Race [7]
Party	Candidate	Popular Votes	Pop. Vote %	Electoral Votes	Electoral Vote %
Republican	Amy Tuck	542,129	60.98%	84	68.85%
Democrat	Barbara Blackmon	329,454	37.06%	38	31.15%
Reform	Anna Reives	17,481	1.97%	0	0.00%
TOTAL		889,064	100.00%	122	100.00%

Attorney general

Mississippi Attorney General election, 2003

← 1999 November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04) 2007 →

Nominee Jim Hood Scott Newton Party Democratic Republican Electoral vote 100 22 Popular vote 548,046 326,042 Percentage 62.69% 37.30%

County Results: Hood:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Newton:      50–60%      60–70%

Attorney General before election Mike Moore Democratic Elected Attorney General Jim Hood Democratic

Democratic nomination

Candidate

• Jim Hood, district attorney of Northern Mississippi

Republican nomination

Candidate

• Scott Newton, former FBI agent

General election

Mike Moore, a Democrat who had served four terms starting in 1988, declined to run for re-election. Moore's protégé Jim Hood faced Republican Scott Newton. Newton ran many ads attacking Hood on being soft on crime and especially criticized Hood's handling of a rape case, while Hood focused on Newton's supposed inexperience. Hood won the election over Newton.

Results

Results for Attorney General's Race [8]
Party	Candidate	Popular Votes	Pop. Vote %	Electoral Votes	Electoral Vote %
Democrat	Jim Hood	548,046	62.69%	100	81.97%
Republican	Scott Newton	326,042	37.30%	22	18.03%
TOTAL		874,088	100.00%	122	100.0%

State Treasurer

Mississippi State Treasurer election, 2003

← 1999 November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04) 2007 →

Nominee Tate Reeves Gary Anderson Party Republican Democratic Electoral vote 66 56 Popular vote 447,860 403,307 Percentage 51.80% 46.64%

County Results: Anderson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Reeves:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

State Treasurer before election Marshall Bennett Democratic Elected State Treasurer Tate Reeves Republican

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Gary Anderson
• Cindy Ayers Elliott
• Robert H. Smith

Results

Democratic primary results ^[9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gary Anderson	197,320	40.1%
	Democratic	Robert H. Smith	173,866	35.3%
	Democratic	Cindy Ayers Eliott	121,468	24.7%
Total votes			492,654	100.0

Runoff

Democratic runoff results ^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gary Anderson	189,388	53.3%
	Democratic	Robert H. Smith	165,661	46.7%
Total votes			355,049	100.0

Republican primary

Candidates

• Wayne Burkes
• Andrew Ketchings
• Tate Reeves, banker

Results

Republican primary results ^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Tate Reeves	81,263	48.6%
	Republican	Wayne Burkes	51,896	31.1%
	Republican	Andrew Ketchings	33,969	20.3%
Total votes			167,128	100.0

Runoff

Republican runoff results ^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Tate Reeves	49,466	69.0%
	Republican	Wayne Burkes	22,206	31.0%
Total votes			71,672	100.0

General election

Four-term Democrat Marshall Bennett resigned in early 2003 to join a New York City law firm and was replaced by Peyton Prospere, who was appointed by Governor Musgrove to complete the term. With Prospere not seeking election in his own right, Gary Anderson ran for the Democrats. The Republicans chose 29-year-old banker Tate Reeves. In a close race, Reeves won over Anderson.

Results

Results for State Treasurer's Race [13]
Party	Candidate	Popular Votes	Pop. Vote %	Electoral Votes	Electoral Vote %
Republican	Tate Reeves	447,860	51.80%	66	54.10%
Democrat	Gary Anderson	403,307	46.64%	56	45.90%
Reform	Lee Dilworth	13,507	1.56%	0	0.00%
TOTAL		864,674	100.00%	122	100.0%

State Auditor

Mississippi State Auditor election, 2003

← 1999 November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04) 2007 →

Nominee Phil Bryant Billy Blackburn Party Republican Reform Electoral vote 119 3 Popular vote 587,212 182,292 Percentage 76.31% 23.69%

County Results: Tuck:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%     >90% Blackburn:      50–60%

State Auditor before election Phil Bryant Republican Elected State Auditor Phil Bryant Republican

Reform nomination

Candidate

• Billy Blackburn

Republican nomination

Candidate

• Phil Bryant, incumbent

General election

Republican Phil Bryant, first appointed by Gov. Kirk Fordice in 1996 to fill an unexpired term and then won in 1999, won over Reform Party candidate Billy Blackburn.

Results

Results for State Auditor's Race [14]
Party	Candidate	Popular Votes	Pop. Vote %	Electoral Votes	Electoral Vote %
Republican	Phil Bryant	587,212	76.31%	119	97.54%
Reform	Billy Blackburn	182,292	23.69%	3	2.46%
TOTAL		769,504	100.00%	122	100.0%

Secretary of State

Mississippi Secretary of State election, 2003

← 1999 November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04) 2007 →

Nominee Eric Clark Julio Del Castillo Brenda Blackburn Party Democratic Republican Reform Electoral vote 117 5 0 Popular vote 610,461 201,765 47,296 Percentage 71.02% 23.47% 5.50%

County Results: Clark:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Castillo:      50–60%

Secretary of State before election Eric Clark Democratic Elected Secretary of State Eric Clark Democratic

Democratic nomination

Candidate

• Eric Clark, incumbent

Reform nomination

Candidate

• Brenda Blackburn

Republican nomination

Candidate

• Julio Del Castillo

General election

Three-term incumbent Democrat Eric Clark won over Republican challenger Julio Del Castillo.

Results

Results for Secretary of State's Race [15]
Party	Candidate	Popular Votes	Pop. Vote %	Electoral Votes	Electoral Vote %
Democrat	Eric Clark	610,461	71.02%	117	95.90%
Republican	Julio Del Castillo	201,765	23.47%	5	4.10%
Reform	Brenda Blackburn	47,296	5.50%	0	0.00%
TOTAL		859,522	100.00%	122	100.0%

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce

Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce election, 2003

← 1999 November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04) 2007 →

Nominee Lester Spell Max Phillips Party Democratic Republican Electoral vote 105 17 Popular vote 564,283 274,097 Percentage 66.11% 32.11%

County Results: Spell:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Phillips:      50–60%      60–70%

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce before election Lester Spell Democratic Elected Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Lester Spell Democratic

Democratic nomination

Candidate

• Lester Spell, incumbent

Republican primary

Candidates

• Roger D. Crowder
• Kyle Weston Magee
• Max Phillips
• Fred T. Smith

Results

Republican primary results ^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Roger D. Crowder	64,521	41.7%
	Republican	Max Phillips	38,731	25.0%
	Republican	Kyle Weston Magee	26,068	16.8%
	Republican	Fred T. Smith	25,457	16.4%
Total votes			154,777	100.0

Runoff

Republican runoff results ^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Max Phillips	34,840	50.3%
	Republican	Roger Crowder	34,404	49.7%
Total votes			69,244	100.0

General election

Democrat Lester Spell was re-elected to a third term over Republican Max Phillips.

Results

Results for Commissioner of Agriculture and Industry Race [17]
Party	Candidate	Popular Votes	Pop. Vote %	Electoral Votes	Electoral Vote %
Democrat	Lester Spell	564,283	66.11%	105	86.07%
Republican	Max Phillips	274,097	32.11%	17	13.93%
Reform	Bob Claunch	15,229	1.78%	0	0.00%
TOTAL		853,609	100.00%	122	100.0%

Commissioner of Insurance

Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance election, 2003

← 1999 November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04) 2007 →

Nominee George Dale Aaron DuPuy Party Democratic Republican Electoral vote 114 8 Popular vote 610,341 211,859 Percentage 71.27% 24.77%

Commissioner of Insurance before election George Dale Democratic Elected Commissioner of Insurance George Dale Democratic

Democratic nomination

Candidate

• George Dale, incumbent

Reform nomination

Candidate

• Barbara Dale Washer

Republican nomination

Candidate

• Aaron DuPuy

General election

Democrat George Dale won an eighth term over Republican Aaron DuPuy.

Results

Results for Commissioner of Insurance Race [18]
Party	Candidate	Popular Votes	Pop. Vote %	Electoral Votes	Electoral Vote %
Democrat	George Dale	610,341	71.27%	114	93.44%
Republican	Aaron DuPuy	211,859	24.77%	8	6.56%
Reform	Barbara Dale Washer	32,969	3.86%	0	0.00%
TOTAL			100.00%	122	100.0%

Public Service Commission

Mississippi Public Service Commissioner, Northern District election, 2003

← 1999 November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04) 2007 →

Nominee Bo Robinson Kerry Hunt Party Democratic Reform Popular vote 216,331 41,610 Percentage 83.9% 16.1%

Northern District Commissioner before election Bo Robinson Democratic Elected Northern District Commissioner Bo Robinson Democratic

Northern district

Democrat primary

Candidates

• Bo Robinson, incumbent
• Benton White

Results

Democratic primary results ^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bo Robinson	158,810	79.6%
	Democratic	Benton White	40,632	20.4%
Total votes			199,442	100.0

Reform nomination

Candidate

• Kerry Hunt

General election

Democrat Bo Robinson won over Reform Kerry Hunt. ^[20]

Results

Mississippi Public Service Commissioner, Northern District election, 2003 ^[20]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bo Robinson	216,331	83.9%
	Reform	Kerry Hunt	41,610	16.1%
Total votes			257,941	100.0
	Democratic hold

Mississippi Public Service Commissioner, Central District election, 2003

← 1999 November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04) 2007 →

Nominee Nielsen Cochran L.D. Horne, Sr. Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 164,394 110,779 Percentage 58.5% 39.4%

Central District Commissioner before election Nielsen Cochran Republican Elected Central District Commissioner Nielsen Cochran Republican

Central district

Democratic nomination

Candidate

• L.D. Horne Sr.

Reform nomination

Candidate

• Miek R. Ivey

Republican nominiation

Candidate

• Nielsen Cochran, incumbent

General election

Republican Nielsen Cochran won over Democrat L.D. Horne Sr. and Reform Miek R. Ivey. ^[21]

Results

Mississippi Public Service Commissioner, Central District election, 2003 ^[21]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Nielsen Cochran	164,394	58.5%
	Democratic	L.D. Horne, Sr.	110,779	39.4%
	Reform	Mike R. Ivey	6,072	2.2%
Total votes			281,245	100.0
	Republican hold

Mississippi Public Service Commissioner, Southern District election, 2003

← 1999 November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04) 2007 →

Nominee Michael Callahan Larry Albritton Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 150,599 138,147 Percentage 51.3% 47.0%

Southern District Commissioner before election Michael Callahan Democratic Elected Southern District Commissioner Michael Callahan Democratic

Southern district

Democratic nomination

Candidate

• Michael Callahan, incumbent

Reform nomination

Candidate

• Anthony Sahuque

Republican nominiation

Candidate

• Larry Albritton

General election

Democrat Michael Callahan won over Republican Larry Albritton and Reform Anthony Sahuque. ^[22]

Results

Mississippi Public Service Commissioner, Southern District election, 2003 ^[22]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Michael Callahan	150,599	51.3%
	Republican	Larry Albritton	138,147	47.0%
	Reform	Anthony Sahuque	4,962	1.7%
Total votes			293,708	100.0
	Democratic hold

Transportation Commission

Mississippi Transportation Commissioner, Northern District election, 2003

← 1999 November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04) 2007 →

Nominee Bill R. Minor John M. Caldwell, Sr. Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 156,667 115,182 Percentage 57.6% 42.4%

Northern District Commissioner before election Zach Stewart Democratic Elected Northern District Commissioner Bill R. Minor Democratic

Northern district

Democrat primary

Candidates

• A.T. Marlar Jr.
• William R. (Bill) Minor
• Thomas (Tod) Todd

Results

Democratic primary results ^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	William R. Minor	108,558	54.3%
	Democratic	Thomas Todd	67,063	33.6%
	Democratic	A.T. Marlar, Jr.	24,155	12.1%
Total votes			199,776	100.0

Republican primary

Candidates

• John M. Caldwell Sr.
• Larry Lee

Results

Republican primary results ^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John M. Caldwell, Sr.	25,985	79.9%
	Republican	Larry Lee	6,517	20.1%
Total votes			32,502	100.0

General election

Democrat Bill R. Minor won over Republican John M. Caldwell Sr. ^[24]

Results

Mississippi Transportation Commissioner, Northern District election, 2003 ^[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	William R. Minor	156,667	57.6%
	Republican	John M. Caldwell, Sr.	115,182	42.4%
Total votes			271,849	100.0
	Democratic hold

Mississippi Transportation Commissioner, Central District election, 2003

← 1999 November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04) 2007 →

Nominee Dick Hall W.C. Alderman Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 152,320 123,013 Percentage 54.3% 43.9%

Central District Commissioner before election Dick Hall Republican Elected Central District Commissioner Dick Hall Republican

Central district

Democratic nomination

Candidate

• W.C. Alderman

Reform nomination

Candidate

• Jimmy Loper

Republican nominiation

Candidate

• Dick Hall, incumbent

General election

Republican Dick Hall won over Democrat W.C. Alderman and Reform Jimmy Loper. ^[20]

Results

Mississippi Transportation Commissioner, Central District election, 2003 ^[20]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Dick Hall	152,320	54.3%
	Democratic	W.C. Alderman	123,013	43.9%
	Reform	Jimmy Loper	4,986	1.8%
Total votes			280,319	100.0
	Republican hold

Mississippi Transportation Commissioner, Southern District election, 2003

← 1999 November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04) 2007 →

Nominee Wayne Brown Arlin Regan Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 165,109 117,941 Percentage 56.1% 40.1%

Southern District Commissioner before election Wayne Brown Democratic Elected Southern District Commissioner Wayne Brown Democratic

Southern district

Democratic nomination

Candidate

• Wayne H. Brown

Reform nomination

Candidate

• Virgil C. Smith

Republican primary

Candidates

• Alana Abney
• Arlin Regan

Results

Republican primary results ^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Arlin Regan	31,066	52.3%
	Republican	Alana Abney	28,376	47.7%
Total votes			59,442	100.0

General election

Democrat Wayne H. Brown won over Republican Arlin Regan and Reform Virgil C. Smith. ^[24]

Results

Mississippi Transportation Commissioner, Southern District election, 2003 ^[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Wayne H. Brown	165,109	56.1%
	Republican	Arlin Regan	117,941	40.1%
	Reform	Virgil C. Smith	11,247	1.8%
Total votes			294,297	100.0
	Democratic hold

Notes

References

Works cited

• Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2004–2008. Jackson: Mississippi Secretary of State. 2005.