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
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.

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.

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.

Candidates

 * Barbara Blackmon, state senator
 * Troy D. Brown Sr., business owner
 * James L. Roberts Jr., judge on the Mississippi Supreme Court

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.

Candidate

 * Jim Hood, district attorney of Northern Mississippi

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.

Candidates

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

Candidates

 * Wayne Burkes
 * Andrew Ketchings
 * Tate Reeves, banker

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.

Candidate

 * Billy Blackburn

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.

Candidate

 * Eric Clark, incumbent

Candidate

 * Brenda Blackburn

Candidate

 * Julio Del Castillo

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

Candidate

 * Lester Spell, incumbent

Candidates

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

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

Candidate

 * George Dale, incumbent

Candidate

 * Barbara Dale Washer

Candidate

 * Aaron DuPuy

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

Candidates

 * Bo Robinson, incumbent
 * Benton White

Candidate

 * Kerry Hunt

General election
Democrat Bo Robinson won over Reform Kerry Hunt.

Candidate

 * L.D. Horne Sr.

Candidate

 * Miek R. Ivey

Candidate

 * Nielsen Cochran, incumbent

General election
Republican Nielsen Cochran won over Democrat L.D. Horne Sr. and Reform Miek R. Ivey.

Candidate

 * Michael Callahan, incumbent

Candidate

 * Anthony Sahuque

Candidate

 * Larry Albritton

General election
Democrat Michael Callahan won over Republican Larry Albritton and Reform Anthony Sahuque.

Candidates

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

Candidates

 * John M. Caldwell Sr.
 * Larry Lee

General election
Democrat Bill R. Minor won over Republican John M. Caldwell Sr.

Candidate

 * W.C. Alderman

Candidate

 * Jimmy Loper

Candidate

 * Dick Hall, incumbent

General election
Republican Dick Hall won over Democrat W.C. Alderman and Reform Jimmy Loper.

Candidate

 * Wayne H. Brown

Candidate

 * Virgil C. Smith

Candidates

 * Alana Abney
 * Arlin Regan

General election
Democrat Wayne H. Brown won over Republican Arlin Regan and Reform Virgil C. Smith.