United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi, 2008
Encyclopedia
The 2008 congressional elections in Mississippi were held on November 4, 2008 to determine who will represent the state
of Mississippi
in the United States House of Representatives
. The primary election for candidates seeking the nomination of the Republican Party or the Democratic Party was held on March 11, with a run-off being held for the Republican nomination in the first and third districts, and for the Democratic nomination in the first district.
Mississippi has four seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 111th Congress
from January 4, 2009 until January 3, 2011. The election coincides with the United States Senate special election
to fill the remainder of Trent Lott's term, the regularly scheduled 2008 United States Senate election, and the 2008 U.S. presidential election
.
With the results of the 1st congressional district special election
included, the Mississippi congressional delegation consists of three Democrats and one Republican.
The only race not forecasted as safe for the incumbent party was District 1.
This district covers the northeastern part of the state, including the cities of Columbus
, Grenada
, Oxford
, Southaven
, and Tupelo
. Democrat Travis Childers
is the Representative to the district, having defeated Republican Greg Davis
in an April 22 special election. Childers and Davis are set to face each other again in November along with Green Party candidate John Wages, Jr., a college professor and farmer; and independent candidate Wally Pang, a restaurant owner. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Leans Democratic'.
This district consists of the Mississippi Delta
and most of the capital city of Jackson
and is Mississippi's only majority-black district. Democrat Bennie Thompson
has been in office since 1993, when he won a special election to replace Mike Espy
who had resigned to become Secretary of Agriculture under President Bill Clinton
. Thompson is challenged on the Republican side by teacher Richard Cook. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
Republican Chip Pickering
is retiring from Congress after what will be 12 years of service. The candidates are Republican Gregg Harper
, attorney and chairman of the Rankin County Republican Party; Democrat Joel Gill, Pickens
town alderman and a cattle broker; and independent candidate
Jim Giles, a former systems engineer and white supremacist. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Republican'.
Democrat Gene Taylor, has representated the district since 1989. He is challenged on the Republican side by Methodist minister and Air National Guard
officer John McCay III.CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. The primary election for candidates seeking the nomination of the Republican Party or the Democratic Party was held on March 11, with a run-off being held for the Republican nomination in the first and third districts, and for the Democratic nomination in the first district.
Mississippi has four seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 111th Congress
111th United States Congress
The One Hundred Eleventh United States Congress was the meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government from January 3, 2009 until January 3, 2011. It began during the last two weeks of the George W. Bush administration, with the remainder spanning the first two years of...
from January 4, 2009 until January 3, 2011. The election coincides with the United States Senate special election
United States Senate special election in Mississippi, 2008
The 2008 United States Senate special election in Mississippi was held on November 4, 2008. This election is held on the same day of Thad Cochran's re-election bid in the United States Senate election in Mississippi, 2008. The rules of this special election is that the winner will serve rest of...
to fill the remainder of Trent Lott's term, the regularly scheduled 2008 United States Senate election, and the 2008 U.S. presidential election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
.
With the results of the 1st congressional district special election
Mississippi's 1st congressional district special election, 2008
The 2008 Mississippi 1st congressional district special election was a special election in the state of Mississippi to determine who would serve the remainder of former Representative Roger Wicker's term...
included, the Mississippi congressional delegation consists of three Democrats and one Republican.
The only race not forecasted as safe for the incumbent party was District 1.
Overview
| United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi, 2008 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats | +/– | |
| Democratic | 731,805 | 57.86% | 3 | — | |
| Republican | 527,330 | 41.69% | 1 | — | |
| Independents | 5,612 | 0.44% | 0 | — | |
| Totals | 1,264,747 | 100.00% | 4 | — | |
District 1
This district covers the northeastern part of the state, including the cities of Columbus
Columbus, Mississippi
Columbus is a city in Lowndes County, Mississippi, United States that lies above the Tombigbee River. It is approximately northeast of Jackson, north of Meridian, south of Tupelo, northwest of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and west of Birmingham, Alabama. The population was 25,944 at the 2000 census...
, Grenada
Grenada, Mississippi
Grenada is a city in Grenada County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 14,879 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Grenada County.-History:...
, Oxford
Oxford, Mississippi
Oxford is a city in, and the county seat of, Lafayette County, Mississippi, United States. Founded in 1835, it was named after the British university city of Oxford in hopes of having the state university located there, which it did successfully attract....
, Southaven
Southaven, Mississippi
-Households And Families:As of the census of 2000, there were 28,977 people, 11,007 households, and 8,134 families residing in the city. The population density was 857.9 people per square mile...
, and Tupelo
Tupelo, Mississippi
Tupelo is the largest city in and the county seat of Lee County, Mississippi, United States. It is the seventh largest city in the state of Mississippi, smaller than Meridian, and larger than Greenville. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city's population was 34,211...
. Democrat Travis Childers
Travis Childers
Travis Wayne Childers is the former U.S. Representative from , serving from the 2008 special election until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes much of the northern portion of the state including New Albany, Columbus, Oxford, Southaven, and Tupelo...
is the Representative to the district, having defeated Republican Greg Davis
Greg Davis (Mississippi politician)
For other persons with these names, see Greg Davis and Charles Davis.Charles Gregory "Greg" Davis is the mayor of Southaven, Mississippi, the state's third largest city, and was the Republican Party nominee for Mississippi's 1st congressional district in the 2008 special and general elections.-...
in an April 22 special election. Childers and Davis are set to face each other again in November along with Green Party candidate John Wages, Jr., a college professor and farmer; and independent candidate Wally Pang, a restaurant owner. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Leans Democratic'.
District 2
This district consists of the Mississippi Delta
Mississippi Delta
The Mississippi Delta is the distinctive northwest section of the U.S. state of Mississippi that lies between the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers. The region has been called "The Most Southern Place on Earth" because of its unique racial, cultural, and economic history...
and most of the capital city of Jackson
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
and is Mississippi's only majority-black district. Democrat Bennie Thompson
Bennie Thompson
Bennie G. Thompson, is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993, and the ranking member of the Committee on Homeland Security since 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
has been in office since 1993, when he won a special election to replace Mike Espy
Mike Espy
Alphonso Michael "Mike" Espy is a former United States political figure. From 1987 to 1993, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Mississippi. He served as the Secretary of Agriculture from 1993 to 1994. He was the first African American Secretary of Agriculture...
who had resigned to become Secretary of Agriculture under President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
. Thompson is challenged on the Republican side by teacher Richard Cook. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
District 3
Republican Chip Pickering
Chip Pickering
"Charles Willis Pickering" redirects here. For this former congressman's father, see Charles W. Pickering.Charles Willis "Chip" Pickering, Jr. is a politician in the U.S. state of Mississippi. He represented as a Republican in the United States House of Representatives...
is retiring from Congress after what will be 12 years of service. The candidates are Republican Gregg Harper
Gregg Harper
Gregory "Gregg" Harper is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district includes the wealthier portions of the state capital, Jackson, along with most of that city's suburbs. Other cities in the district include Meridian and Natchez.-...
, attorney and chairman of the Rankin County Republican Party; Democrat Joel Gill, Pickens
Pickens, Mississippi
Pickens is a town in Holmes County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 1,325 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pickens is located at ....
town alderman and a cattle broker; and independent candidate
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
Jim Giles, a former systems engineer and white supremacist. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Republican'.
District 4
Democrat Gene Taylor, has representated the district since 1989. He is challenged on the Republican side by Methodist minister and Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
officer John McCay III.CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
External links
- Elections Division from the Mississippi Secretary of State
- U.S. Congress candidates for Mississippi at Project Vote SmartProject Vote SmartProject Vote Smart is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States...
- Campaign contributions for Mississippi congressional races from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...