2008 United States Senate special election in Mississippi

Background

On December 18, 2007, U.S. Senator Trent Lott resigned in his fourth-term to pursue "something else" in the private sector. He ended up starting his own lobbying firm.

Mississippi law stated that the Governor of Mississippi had ten days after receiving official notification of the vacancy to appoint an interim senator pending a special election. On December 31, thirteen days after Lott's resignation, Governor Haley Barbour appointed U.S. Representative Roger Wicker.

Scheduling lawsuit

Barbour scheduled the special election for November 4, 2008. Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood, a member of the Democratic Party, issued a non-binding opinion that the election must be held within one hundred days of Lott's resignation (no later than March 30, 2008), and sued Barbour in Hinds County Circuit Court, arguing that Barbour had 10 days to set a special election within 90 days (no later than March 29, 2008). Hood argued the date of the special election to be March 11, the same day as Mississippi's presidential primary. Governor Barbour claimed that the definition of "year" in the law in question is 365 days. Mississippi Secretary of State Eric Clark, the state's chief elections officer and a fellow Democrat, backed the governor's position.

Judge Bobby DeLaughter ruled that the election must take place no later than March 19. On February 6, 2008, after Barbour appealed to the Mississippi Supreme Court, which reversed Judge Delaughter and ruled that the non-partisan special election may be held on November 4.

General election

Candidates

Note: Mississippi special elections are nonpartisan. Party labels are for informational purposes only.

• Ronnie Musgrove, former Governor (Democratic)

• Roger Wicker, incumbent U.S. Senator (Republican)

Withdrew

• Ronnie Shows, former U.S. Representative from Bassfield (Democratic) (withdrew February 19, 2008) (endorsed Musgrove)

Declined

• Mike Epsy, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and U.S. Representative from Yazoo City (Democratic)
• Harvey Johnson Jr., former mayor of Jackson (Democratic)
• Mike Moore, former Mississippi Attorney General (Democratic)

Former Governor Ronnie Musgrove, former U.S. Representative and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy, former Jackson mayor Harvey Johnson, Jr., former Governor Ray Mabus, and former Mississippi Attorney General Mike Moore were all considered potential Democratic candidates. Of the five, only Musgrove decided to run. Former congressman Ronnie Shows also decided to run, but withdrew on February 19, 2008, after determining that he could not raise enough funds to effectively campaign against Wicker and Musgrove. Shows gave his endorsement to Musgrove.

Predictions

Polling

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Adams (Largest city: Natchez)
• Chickasaw (Largest city: Houston)
• Clay (Largest city: West Point)
• Copiah (Largest city: Hazlehurst)
• Jasper (Largest city: Bay Springs)
• Kemper (Largest city: De Kalb)
• Panola (Largest city: Batesville)
• Pike (Largest city: McComb)
• Tallahatchie (Largest city: Charleston)
• LeFlore (Largest city: Greenwood)

By congressional district

Wicker won three of four congressional districts, including two that elected Democrats.

References

References

1. (November 26, 2007). "Mississippi's Lott to Leave Senate Seat". The New York Times.
2. link. (January 4, 2009)
3. [https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=amhNrpkD8qz0&refer=us Bloomberg: Wicker Named to Replace Mississippi's Lott in Senate]
4. [http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071228/NEWS01/71228020 Hattiesburg American: Barbour to name leader to fill Lott's seat]
5. http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071231/NEWS/712310319/1001/news Jackson Clarion-Ledger Senate Pick to be Unveiled Today
6. clarionledger.com. The Clarion-Ledger]{{Dead link. (August 2024)
7. [https://web.archive.org/web/20071220183702/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,317402,00.html FOX News: Trent Lott Resigns From U.S. Senate After Nearly Two Decades of Service]
8. "WLBT 3 – Jackson, MS: Hood Files Suit to Have Special Election Earlier".
9. "WLBT 3 – Jackson, MS: AG Challenges Timing of Senate Election".
10. [http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071219/NEWS/712190363/1001 The ClarionLedger: AG opinion backs Democrats on timing of election]
11. clarionledger.com. The Clarion-Ledger]
12. "WLBT 3 – Jackson, MS: Barbour's Attorney Appeals Special-Elex Ruling".
13. [http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=265388&pub=1&div=News djournal.com]
14. (August 2024)
15. "Former governor Musgrove to run for U.S. Senate".
16. [https://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20080107/pl_cq_politics/politics2652582 Democrat Finally Jumps into Mississippi Senate Race] ''Yahoo! News'' January 7, 2008
17. clarionledger.com. The Clarion-Ledger]
18. [http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080105/NEWS01/80105012 '''Associated Press''' via '''The Hattiesburg American''', January 5, 2008]
19. "2008 Senate Race ratings for October 23, 2008".
20. link. (October 28, 2010 ''CQ Politics'')
21. "2008 Senate ratings".
22. "2008 RCP Averages & Senate Results". Real Clear Politics.
23. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090227004247/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/mississippi/election_2008_mississippi_senate_special Rasmussen Reports]
24. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080907205734/http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/mississippi/mississippi_senate_musgrove_d_47_wicker_r_46 Rasmussen Reports]
25. "Mississippi: 2008 Election".