2003 Mississippi elections
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 [ edit ]
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 [ edit ]
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 [ edit ]
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 [ edit ]
Mississippi Lieutenant Gubernatorial election, 2003
County Results: Blackmon: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Tuck: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90%
Democratic primary [ edit ]
Candidates [ edit ]
Results [ edit ]
Republican nomination [ edit ]
Candidate [ edit ]
General election [ edit ]
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 [ edit ]
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 [ edit ]
Mississippi Attorney General election, 2003
County Results: Hood: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Newton: 50–60% 60–70%
Democratic nomination [ edit ]
Candidate [ edit ]
Jim Hood, district attorney of Northern Mississippi
Republican nomination [ edit ]
Candidate [ edit ]
Scott Newton, former FBI agent
General election [ edit ]
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 [ edit ]
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 [ edit ]
Mississippi State Treasurer election, 2003
County Results: Anderson: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Reeves: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%
Democratic primary [ edit ]
Candidates [ edit ]
Gary Anderson
Cindy Ayers Elliott
Robert H. Smith
Results [ edit ]
Republican primary [ edit ]
Candidates [ edit ]
Results [ edit ]
General election [ edit ]
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 [ edit ]
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 [ edit ]
Mississippi State Auditor election, 2003
County Results: Tuck: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Blackburn: 50–60%
Reform nomination [ edit ]
Candidate [ edit ]
Republican nomination [ edit ]
Candidate [ edit ]
General election [ edit ]
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 [ edit ]
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 [ edit ]
Mississippi Secretary of State election, 2003
County Results: Clark: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Castillo: 50–60%
Democratic nomination [ edit ]
Candidate [ edit ]
Reform nomination [ edit ]
Candidate [ edit ]
Republican nomination [ edit ]
Candidate [ edit ]
General election [ edit ]
Three-term incumbent Democrat Eric Clark won over Republican challenger Julio Del Castillo.
Results [ edit ]
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 [ edit ]
Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce election, 2003
County Results: Spell: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Phillips: 50–60% 60–70%
Democratic nomination [ edit ]
Candidate [ edit ]
Republican primary [ edit ]
Candidates [ edit ]
Roger D. Crowder
Kyle Weston Magee
Max Phillips
Fred T. Smith
Results [ edit ]
General election [ edit ]
Democrat Lester Spell was re-elected to a third term over Republican Max Phillips.
Results [ edit ]
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 [ edit ]
Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance election, 2003
Democratic nomination [ edit ]
Candidate [ edit ]
Reform nomination [ edit ]
Candidate [ edit ]
Republican nomination [ edit ]
Candidate [ edit ]
General election [ edit ]
Democrat George Dale won an eighth term over Republican Aaron DuPuy.
Results [ edit ]
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 [ edit ]
Mississippi Public Service Commissioner, Northern District election, 2003
Northern district [ edit ]
Democrat primary [ edit ]
Candidates [ edit ]
Bo Robinson, incumbent
Benton White
Results [ edit ]
Reform nomination [ edit ]
Candidate [ edit ]
General election [ edit ]
Democrat Bo Robinson won over Reform Kerry Hunt.[20]
Results [ edit ]
Mississippi Public Service Commissioner, Central District election, 2003
Central district [ edit ]
Democratic nomination [ edit ]
Candidate [ edit ]
Reform nomination [ edit ]
Candidate [ edit ]
Republican nominiation [ edit ]
Candidate [ edit ]
Nielsen Cochran, incumbent
General election [ edit ]
Republican Nielsen Cochran won over Democrat L.D. Horne Sr. and Reform Miek R. Ivey.[21]
Results [ edit ]
Mississippi Public Service Commissioner, Southern District election, 2003
Southern district [ edit ]
Democratic nomination [ edit ]
Candidate [ edit ]
Michael Callahan, incumbent
Reform nomination [ edit ]
Candidate [ edit ]
Republican nominiation [ edit ]
Candidate [ edit ]
General election [ edit ]
Democrat Michael Callahan won over Republican Larry Albritton and Reform Anthony Sahuque.[22]
Results [ edit ]
Transportation Commission [ edit ]
Mississippi Transportation Commissioner, Northern District election, 2003
Northern district [ edit ]
Democrat primary [ edit ]
Candidates [ edit ]
Results [ edit ]
Republican primary [ edit ]
Candidates [ edit ]
John M. Caldwell Sr.
Larry Lee
Results [ edit ]
General election [ edit ]
Democrat Bill R. Minor won over Republican John M. Caldwell Sr.[24]
Results [ edit ]
Mississippi Transportation Commissioner, Central District election, 2003
Central district [ edit ]
Democratic nomination [ edit ]
Candidate [ edit ]
Reform nomination [ edit ]
Candidate [ edit ]
Republican nominiation [ edit ]
Candidate [ edit ]
General election [ edit ]
Republican Dick Hall won over Democrat W.C. Alderman and Reform Jimmy Loper.[20]
Results [ edit ]
Mississippi Transportation Commissioner, Southern District election, 2003
Southern district [ edit ]
Democratic nomination [ edit ]
Candidate [ edit ]
Reform nomination [ edit ]
Candidate [ edit ]
Republican primary [ edit ]
Candidates [ edit ]
Results [ edit ]
General election [ edit ]
Democrat Wayne H. Brown won over Republican Arlin Regan and Reform Virgil C. Smith.[24]
Results [ edit ]
^ The electoral vote system was repealed via a public referendum in 2020.
References [ edit ]
^ Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005 , p. 74-75.
^ Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005 , p. 537.
^ Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005 , p. 614.
^ "Candidate aims to break race barrier" . Tampa Bay Times . Retrieved April 22, 2023 .
^ "Judge James L. Roberts Jr. lauded for public service - State of Mississippi Judiciary News" . State of Mississippi Judiciary . January 21, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2023 .
^ Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005 , p. 579.
^ Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005 , p. 615-616.
^ Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005 , p. 618-619.
^ Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005 , p. 581.
^ Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005 , p. 606.
^ Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005 , p. 595.
^ a b Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005 , p. 611.
^ Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005 , p. 619-620.
^ Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005 , p. 621-622.
^ Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005 , p. 616-617.
^ Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005 , p. 597.
^ Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005 , p. 624-625.
^ Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005 , p. 622-623.
^ a b Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005 , p. 582.
^ a b c d Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005 , p. 627.
^ a b Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005 , p. 625.
^ a b Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005 , p. 626.
^ a b Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005 , p. 598.
^ a b c d Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005 , p. 628.
Works cited [ edit ]
Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2004–2008 . Jackson: Mississippi Secretary of State. 2005.
U.S. House Governors States and territories Mayors
Anchorage, AK
Arlington, TX
Austin, TX
Baltimore, MD
Charlotte, NC
Chicago, IL
Colorado Springs, CO
Dallas, TX
Denver, CO
Des Moines, IA
Durham, NC
El Paso, TX
Evansville, IN
Fayetteville, NC
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Fort Wayne, IN
Fort Worth, TX
Green Bay, WI
Hartford, CT
Houston, TX
Indianapolis, IN
Jacksonville, FL
Kansas City, MO
Knoxville, TN
Las Vegas, NV
Madison, WI
Manchester, NH
Memphis, TN
Montgomery, AL
Nashville, TN
Orlando, FL (special)
Philadelphia, PA
Phoenix, AZ
Raleigh, NC
Salt Lake City, UT
San Francisco, CA
South Bend, IN
Springfield, MA
Tallahassee, FL (special)
Tampa, FL
Tucson, AZ
Wichita, KS
Worcester, MA