2023 Mississippi elections

The 2023 Mississippi elections took place on November 7, 2023, with the primary on August 8 and any required runoffs on August 29.^[1] All executive offices in the state up for election, as well as all 52 seats of the Mississippi State Senate, all 122 seats in the Mississippi House of Representatives, and many local offices. The qualifying deadline for all 2023 Mississippi races was February 1, 2023.^[2]

2023 Mississippi elections

← 2019 2027 →

Special elections also took place during the year.

State House of Representatives

Main article: 2023 Mississippi House of Representatives election

State senate

Main article: 2023 Mississippi State Senate election

Governor

Main article: 2023 Mississippi gubernatorial election

Lieutenant governor

Main article: 2023 Mississippi lieutenant gubernatorial election

One-term Republican incumbent Delbert Hosemann was elected in 2019 with 60% of the vote. He ran for re-election.^[3]

Republican state senator Chris McDaniel also announced his candidacy, challenging Hosemann.^[4]

Republicans Shane Quick (who ran against Hosemann in 2019) and Tiffany Longino also filed for the race,^[3] as did Democrat D. Ryan Grover, a former candidate for the Oxford Board of Aldermen.^[3]

Secretary of state

Mississippi Secretary of State election, 2023

← 2019 November 7, 2023 (2023-11-07) 2027 →

Nominee Michael Watson Ty Pinkins Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 481,895 328,067 Percentage 59.5% 40.5%

County results Watson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Pinkins:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Secretary of State before election Michael Watson Republican Elected Secretary of State Michael Watson Republican

After considering challenging Tate Reeves in the 2023 Mississippi gubernatorial election,^[5] Michael Watson instead decided to run for re-election as Secretary of State.^[6]

Former Mississippi Secretary of State Staffer and 2022 Democratic nominee for Mississippi's 3rd congressional district Shuwaski Young announced his bid to unseat Watson.^[3]

Republican primary

Candidate

• Michael Watson, incumbent secretary of state^[6]

Results

Republican primary results^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Michael Watson (incumbent)	351,774	100.00%
Total votes			351,774	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidate

• Shuwaski Young, former Mississippi Secretary of State Staffer and 2022 Democratic nominee for Mississippi's 3rd congressional district^[3]

Results

Democratic primary results^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Shuwaski Young	152,115	100.00%
Total votes			152,115	100.00%

Democratic State Central Committee selection

In August 2023, Shuwaski Young withdrew his candidacy from the race for secretary of state, citing "a hypertensive crisis that was limiting his ability to campaign." On September 7, the Mississippi Democratic Party nominated Ty Pinkins, an attorney and military veteran, as the replacement nominee for the November ballot.^[9]

General election

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	Margin of error	Michael Watson (R)	Shuwaski Young (D)	Other	Undecided
Mississippi Today/Siena College[10]	August 20–28, 2023	650 (LV)	± 4.0%	56%	33%	1%[b]	10%

Hypothetical polling

Michael Watson vs. Shuwaski Young

Results

2023 Mississippi Secretary of State election^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Michael Watson (incumbent)	481,895	59.50%	+0.67%
	Democratic	Ty Pinkins	328,067	40.50%	–0.67%
Total votes			809,962	100.0%
	Republican hold

Attorney general

Mississippi Attorney General election, 2023

← 2019 November 7, 2023 2027 →

Nominee Lynn Fitch Greta Kemp Martin Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 470,870 339,948 Percentage 58.1% 41.9%

County results Fitch:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Martin:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Attorney General before election Lynn Fitch Republican Elected Attorney General Lynn Fitch Republican

One-term Republican incumbent Lynn Fitch was elected in 2019 with 57.83% of the vote, becoming the state's first Republican attorney general since 1878.^[3] She ran for re-election.^[3]

Democratic attorney and Disability Rights Mississippi Litigation Director Greta Kemp Martin ran to challenge Fitch.^[3]

Republican primary

Candidate

• Lynn Fitch, incumbent attorney general^[3]

Results

Republican primary results^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Lynn Fitch (incumbent)	350,670	100.00%
Total votes			350,670	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidate

• Greta Kemp Martin, attorney and Disability Rights Mississippi Litigation Director^[3]

Results

Democratic primary results^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Greta Kemp Martin	152,682	100.00%
Total votes			152,682	100.00%

General election

Endorsements

Greta Kemp Martin (D)

Organizations

• Democratic Attorneys General Association^[12]
• Planned Parenthood Southeast Advocates^[13]
• Reproductive Freedom for All^[14]
• Vote Mama^[15]

Lynn Fitch (R)

Organizations

• Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America^[16]

Polling

Lynn Fitch vs. Greta Martin

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	Margin of error	Lynn Fitch (R)	Greta Martin (D)	Other	Undecided
Mississippi Today/Siena College[10]	August 20–28, 2023	650 (LV)	± 4.0%	54%	35%	2%[c]	9%

Results

2023 Mississippi Attorney General election^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Lynn Fitch (incumbent)	470,870	58.07%	+0.24%
	Democratic	Greta Kemp Martin	339,948	41.93%	–0.24%
Total votes			810,818	100.0%
	Republican hold

State auditor

Mississippi State Auditor election, 2023

← 2019 November 7, 2023 2027 →

Nominee Shad White Larry Bradford Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 474,313 334,418 Percentage 58.6% 41.4%

County results White:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Bradford:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

State Auditor before election Shad White Republican Elected State Auditor Shad White Republican

Incumbent Republican Shad White was appointed as auditor in 2018, winning his first full term unopposed in 2019. White ran for re-election.^[3]

The mayor of Anguilla, Democrat Larry Bradford, challenged White in the general election.^[4]

Republican primary

Candidate

• Shad White, incumbent state auditor^[3]

Results

Republican primary results^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Shad White (incumbent)	347,921	100.00%
Total votes			347,921	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidate

• Larry Bradford, Mayor of Anguilla^[4]

Results

Democratic primary results^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Larry Bradford	153,039	100.00%
Total votes			153,039	100.00%

General election

Results

2023 Mississippi State Auditor election^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Shad White (incumbent)	474,313	58.65%	N/A
	Democratic	Larry Bradford	334,418	41.35%	N/A
Total votes			808,731	100.0%
	Republican hold

State treasurer

Mississippi State Treasurer election, 2023

← 2019 November 7, 2023 2027 →

Nominee David McRae Addie Lee Green Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 472,705 337,008 Percentage 58.4% 41.6%

County results McRae:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Green:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

State Treasurer before election David McRae Republican Elected State Treasurer David McRae Republican

One-term Republican incumbent David McRae was elected in 2019 with 60.8% of the vote. He ran for re-election,^[3] and was unopposed in the Republican primary.^[4][3]

McRae faced a rematch in the general election, as former member of the Bolton Board of Aldermen Addie Lee Green was the only Democrat to announce a run.^[4] Lee Green received 39.2% of the vote in 2019.

Republican primary

Candidate

• David McRae, incumbent state treasurer^[3]

Results

Republican primary results^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	David McRae (incumbent)	349,800	100.00%
Total votes			349,800	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidate

• Addie Lee Green, former member of the Bolton Board of Aldermen^[4]

Results

Democratic primary results^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Addie Lee Green	153,149	100.00%
Total votes			153,149	100.00%

General election

Results

2023 Mississippi State Treasurer election^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	David McRae (incumbent)	472,705	58.38%	−2.42%
	Democratic	Addie Lee Green	337,008	41.62%	+2.42%
Total votes			784,866	100.0%
	Republican hold

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce

Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce election, 2023

← 2019 November 7, 2023 2027 →

Nominee Andy Gipson Robert Bradford Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 467,901 342,172 Percentage 57.8% 42.2%

County results Gipson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Bradford:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Agriculture Commissioner before election Andy Gipson Republican Elected Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson Republican

Two-term Republican incumbent Andy Gipson was re-elected in 2019 with 58.7% of the vote. Gipson ran for re-election,^[17] and was the only Republican on the ballot.^[4]

Republican primary

Candidates

• Andy Gipson, incumbent Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce

Results

Republican primary results^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Andy Gipson (incumbent)	351,194	100.00%
Total votes			351,194	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Robert Bradford, director of Natchez-Adams County Homeland Security Program, Floodplain Management Program, Emergency 9-1-1 Coordinator, and Emergency Management Agency^[4][18]
• Bethany Hill, executive director of the Mississippi Women's Cannabis Chamber of Commerce^[4]
• Terry Rogers II, college student^[4]

Withdrawn or disqualified

• Robert Briggs^[4]

Results

Democratic primary results^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robert Bradford	97,717	51.75%
	Democratic	Bethany Hill	49,032	25.97%
	Democratic	Terry Rogers II	42,079	22.28%
Total votes			188,828	100.00%

General election

Results

2023 Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner election^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Andy Gipson (incumbent)	467,901	57.76%	–0.94%
	Democratic	Robert Bradford	342,172	42.24%	+0.94%
Total votes			810,073	100.0%
	Republican hold

Commissioner of Insurance

Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance election, 2023

← 2019 November 7, 2023 2027 →

Nominee Mike Chaney Bruce Burton Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 480,514 329,214 Percentage 59.3% 40.7%

County results Chaney:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Burton:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Insurance Commissioner before election Mike Chaney Republican Elected Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney Republican

Four-term Republican incumbent Mike Chaney was reelected in 2019 with 61.26% of the vote. Chaney, who also serves as the state's Fire Marshal, ran for re-election.^[3][4]

Republican Mitch Young, a former U.S. Navy Petty Officer and candidate for governor in 2015, announced a primary challenge against Chaney.^[4]

Democratic attorney and 2022 Court of Appeals in District Four candidate Bruce Burton also ran.^[3]

Republican primary

Candidates

• Mike Chaney, incumbent commissioner^[3]
• Mitch Young, former U.S. Navy Petty officer and candidate for governor in 2015^[3]

Results

Republican primary results^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mike Chaney (incumbent)	201,552	80.3%
	Republican	Mitch Young	49,487	19.7%
Total votes			251,039	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Bruce Burton, attorney and candidate for Appeals Court District 4 in 2022^[3]

Results

Democratic primary results^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bruce Burton	182,701	100.00%
Total votes			182,701	100.00%

General election

Results

2023 Mississippi Insurance Commissioner election^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Mike Chaney (incumbent)	480,514	59.34%	–1.92%
	Democratic	Bruce Burton	329,214	40.66%	+1.92%
Total votes			809,728	100.0%
	Republican hold

Public Service Commission

Northern District

Mississippi Public Service Commissioner, Northern District election, 2023

← 2019 November 7, 2023 (2023-11-07) 2027 →

Nominee Chris Brown Party Republican Popular vote 215,257 Percentage 100.0%

Northern District Commissioner before election Brandon Presley Democratic Elected Northern District Commissioner Chris Brown Republican

Four-term Democratic Incumbent Brandon Presley was re-elected unopposed in 2019. Presley did not run for a fifth term, instead opting to run for governor.^[19]

No Democrats filed to run to succeed Presley,^[19] leaving the field open for two Republican challengers to run for the open seat:

• Chris Brown, Mississippi State Representative for the 20th District^[19]
• Tanner Newman, Tupelo Planning and Zoning Administrator^[19]

Mandy Gunasekara, former Chief of Staff for the Environmental Protection Agency, was a challenger,^[19] but she was removed from the ballot due to citizenship eligibility issues.^[20]

Republican primary

Candidates

• Chris Brown, Mississippi State Representative^[19]
• Tanner Newman, Tupelo Planning and Zoning Administrator^[19]

Results

Republican primary results^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Chris Brown	78,272	61.27%
	Republican	Tanner Newman	49,472	38.73%
Total votes			127,744	100.00%

Results

Mississippi Public Service Commissioner Northern District election, 2023^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Chris Brown	215,257	100.0	+100.0
	Republican gain from Democratic

Central District

Mississippi Public Service Commissioner, Central District election, 2023

← 2019 November 7, 2023 (2023-11-07) 2027 →

Nominee De’Keither Stamps Brent Bailey Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 138,741 132,853 Percentage 51.1% 48.9%

County results Stamps:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Bailey:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Central District Commissioner before election Brent Bailey Republican Elected Central District Commissioner De'Keither Stamps Democratic

One-term Republican incumbent Brent Bailey was elected in 2019 with 50.3% of the vote. He ran for re-election.^[4]

Bailey's 2019 Democratic opponent, current state representative De’Keither Stamps, faced him again in a rematch.^[4]

Democratic primary

Candidate

• De’Keither Stamps, State Representative^[4]

Results

Democratic primary results^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	De’Keither Stamps	52,152	100.00%
Total votes			52,152	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidate

• Brent Bailey, incumbent Public Service Commissioner^[4]

Results

Republican primary results^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Brent Bailey (incumbent)	85,778	100.00%
Total votes			85,778	100.00%

Results

Mississippi Public Service Commissioner Central District election, 2023^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	De’Keither Stamps	138,741	51.1	+1.4
	Republican	Brent Bailey (incumbent)	132,853	48.9	–1.4
Total votes			271,594	100.00
	Democratic gain from Republican

Southern District

Mississippi Public Service Commissioner, Southern District election, 2023

← 2019 November 7, 2023 (2023-11-07) 2027 →

Nominee Nelson Wayne Carr Party Republican Popular vote 216,698 Percentage 100.0%

Southern District Commissioner before election Dane Maxwell Republican Elected Southern District Commissioner Nelson Wayne Carr Republican

One-term Republican Incumbent Dane Maxwell was elected in 2019 with 62.6% of the vote. Maxwell was challenged in the primary by Nelson Wayne Carr and lost.^[4]

Republican primary

Candidates

• Nelson Wayne Carr, construction manager, landlord, and Republican Party activist^[4]
• Dane Maxwell, incumbent Public Service Commissioner^[4]

Results

Republican primary results^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Nelson Wayne Carr	76,162	52.89%
	Republican	Dane Maxwell (incumbent)	67,849	47.11%
Total votes			144,011	100.00%

Results

Mississippi Public Service Commissioner Southern District election, 2023^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Nelson Wayne Carr	216,698	100.0	+37.4
Total votes			216,698	100.0
	Republican hold

Transportation Commission

Northern District

Mississippi Transportation Commissioner, Northern District election, 2023

← 2019 November 7, 2023 (2023-11-07) 2027 →

Nominee John Caldwell Party Republican Popular vote 214,325 Percentage 100.0%

Northern District Commissioner before election John Caldwell Republican Elected Northern District Commissioner John Caldwell Republican

One-term Republican Incumbent John Caldwell was elected in 2019 with 63.2% of the vote. He ran for re-election unopposed.^[21]

Republican primary

Candidate

• John Caldwell, incumbent Transportation Commissioner^[21]

Results

Republican primary results^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Caldwell (incumbent)	120,678	100.00%
Total votes			120,678	100.00%

Results

Mississippi Transportation Commissioner Northern District election, 2023^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	John Caldwell (incumbent)	214,325	100.0	+36.8
Total votes			214,325	100.0
	Republican hold

Central District

Mississippi Transportation Commissioner, Central District election, 2023

← 2019 November 7, 2023 (2023-11-07) 2027 →

Nominee Willie Simmons Ricky Pennington Jr. Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 150,296 121,866 Percentage 55.2% 44.8%

Pennington:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Simmons:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Central District Commissioner before election Willie Simmons Democratic Elected Central District Commissioner Willie Simmons Democratic

One-term Democratic incumbent Willie Simmons was elected in 2019 with 51.1% of the vote. He ran for re-election.^[22]

Ricky Pennington Jr., a Republican, also ran for the seat.^[22]

Democratic primary

Candidate

• Willie Simmons, incumbent Transportation Commissioner^[22]

Results

Democratic primary results^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Willie Simmons (incumbent)	54,638	100.00%
Total votes			54,638	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidate

• Ricky Pennington Jr., candidate for this district in 2019^[22]

Results

Republican primary results^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ricky Pennington Jr.	85,180	100.00%
Total votes			85,180	100.00%

Results

Mississippi Transportation Commissioner Central District election, 2023^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Willie Simmons (incumbent)	150,296	55.2	+4.1
	Republican	Ricky Pennington Jr.	121,866	44.8	−4.1
Total votes			272,162	100.0
	Democratic hold

Southern District

Mississippi Transportation Commissioner, Southern District election, 2023

← 2019 November 7, 2023 (2023-11-07) 2027 →

Nominee Charles Busby Steven Brian Griffin Party Republican Independent Popular vote 177,277 69,685 Percentage 71.8% 28.2%

Bubsy:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Griffin:      50–60%

Southern District Commissioner before election Tom King Republican Elected Southern District Commissioner Charles Busby Republican

Three-term Republican incumbent Tom King won re-election unopposed in 2019. On November 16, 2022, King announced he would not seek re-election.^[23]

Republican state representative for the 111th District Charles Busby^[22] ran against Independent Steven Brian Griffin.^[22]

Republican primary

Candidate

• Charles Busby, State Representative^[22]

Results

Republican primary results^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Charles Busby	140,425	100.00%
Total votes			140,425	100.00%

Results

Mississippi Transportation Commissioner Southern District election, 2023^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Charles Busby	177,277	71.8	−28.2
	Independent	Steven Brian Griffin	69,685	28.2	+28.2
Total votes			246,962	100.0
	Republican hold

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear
2. "Not going to vote" with 1%
3. "Not going to vote" with 2%

References

1. "Mississippi elections, 2023". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
2. Watson, Michael. "Press Releases & Columns". Mississippi Secretary of State. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
3. "The field is set for 2023 Elections in Mississippi. See who is running in statewide races". Yahoo! News. The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
4. Harrison, Bobby (February 2, 2023). "Who's running for Mississippi statewide offices in 2023". Mississippi Today. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
5. Vance, Taylor (December 17, 2022). "Secretary of State Michael Watson mulls move to oust Gov. Tate Reeves". Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
6. Perlis, Wicker (January 19, 2023). "Secretary of State Michael Watson announces 2023 run for reelection". Clarion Ledger. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
7. "2023 Republican primary results". Mississippi Secretary of State. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
8. "2023 Democratic primary results". Mississippi Secretary of State. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
9. Pettus, Emily Wagster (September 7, 2023). "Mississippi Democrats name Pinkins as new nominee for secretary of state, to challenge GOP's Watson". Associated Press. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
10. Mississippi Today/Siena College
11. "2023 General Election Results". Mississippi Secretary of State. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
12. Trifone, Emily (June 20, 2023). "DAGA Endorses Greta Kemp Martin for Mississippi Attorney General". Democratic Attorneys General Association. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
13. "Planned Parenthood Southeast Advocates endorses Greta Kemp Martin". DeSoto County News. August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
14. "Reproductive Freedom for All Endorses in Kentucky and Mississippi Attorney General Races". Reproductive Freedom for All. October 11, 2023. Archived from the original on October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
15. "Vote Mama PAC | Candidates". Vote Mama PAC. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
16. Owens, Mary (June 1, 2023). "SBA Pro-Life America's Candidate Fund Endorses Pro-Life Hero AG Lynn Fitch for Re-election". SBA Pro-Life America. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
17. "Ag Commissioner Andy Gipson announces re-election bid for 2023". Supertalk Mississippi. July 28, 2022. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
18. "Committee to Elect Robert "Brad" Bradford". bradforagcomm24.com. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
19. Bedillion, Caleb (February 1, 2023). "Democrats a no-show to hold Brandon Presley's Public Service Commission seat". Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
20. Vance, Taylor (May 11, 2023). "Supreme Court removes Mandy Gunasekara from Public Service Commission race". Mississippi Today. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
21. Vance, Taylor (January 8, 2023). "Candidate tracker 2023: Who has qualified for Mississippi statewide, regional elections". Yahoo! News. Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
22. Ball, Biancca (February 3, 2023). "Who is running for Mississippi's statewide offices in 2023?". WJTV. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
23. "King won't seek 4th term on Mississippi transport commission". Associated Press. November 17, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2023.