2025 Mississippi State Senate special election

Last updated

2025 Mississippi State Senate special election
Flag of Mississippi.svg
  2023 November 4, 20252027 

10 of 52 seats in the Mississippi State Senate
27 seats needed for a majority
 Majority partyMinority party
  Dean Kirby.png 3x4.svg
Leader Dean Kirby Derrick Simmons
Party Republican Democratic
Leader sinceJanuary 7, 2020July 31, 2017
Leader's seat30th district12th district
Seats before3616

2025 Mississippi State Senate election.svg
Incumbents:
     Republican incumbent     Democratic incumbent
     No incumbent     No election
     One Republican, one Democrat
     Two Republicans; one retiring

President pro tempore before election

Dean Kirby
Republican

Elected President pro tempore

TBD

The 2025 Mississippi State Senate special election will be held on November 4, 2025, to elect 10 of 52 members of the Mississippi State Senate. Special elections were called in 10 districts due to court-ordered redistricting, in addition a special election will be held on April 15 to fill a vacancy in one district. Primary elections will be held on August 5 and, if needed, runoff elections will be held on December 2. [1] [2]

Contents

Background

The election was called after court-ordered redistricting caused the state Senate map to be redrawn, as it was found to diminish the voting power of the state's African American population. [3] The new map creates two new majority black districts, one each in DeSoto and Forrest County, both without incumbents. [4] It then goes to court for approval, despite objections from lawmakers in DeSoto County and some Democrats, where it will await a ruling on the next day. [5] [6] In the first week of May, a panel of three judges approved the redrawn map from the Mississippi Election Commission and allowed 10 out of 15 districts to proceed with the special election. [7]

Retirements

Republicans

  1. District 2: David Parker is retiring. [8]
  2. District 44: John Polk is retiring. [9]

Summary

April 15 special election

DistrictIncumbentResultCandidates [10]
MemberPartyFirst elected
18 Jenifer Branning Republican2015Incumbent resigned January 6, 2025, to join the Mississippi Supreme Court. [11]
New member elected April 15, 2025.
Republican hold.
  • Green check.svgY Lane Taylor (Nonpartisan) 56.9%
  • Mark Forsman (Nonpartisan) 26.1%
  • Lindsey Kidd (Nonpartisan) 10.9%
  • Ike Melton (Nonpartisan) 3.9%
  • Marty Sistrunk (Nonpartisan) 2.1% [12]

November 4 special elections

DistrictIncumbentResultCandidates
MemberPartyFirst elected
24 David Lee Jordan Democratic1993Incumbent resigned June 30, 2025, to spend time with his family. [13]
New member to be elected November 4, 2025.
TBD
26 John Horhn Democratic1992Incumbent resigned June 30, 2025, after being elected mayor of Jackson. [14]
New member to be elected November 4, 2025.
TBD

November 4 redistricting elections

DistrictIncumbentCandidatesResult
MemberPartyFirst electedRunning
1 Michael McLendon Republican2019Yes
TBD
Reginald Jackson
(redistricted from SD 11)
Democratic2023Running for the 11th district
2 David ParkerRepublican2012No
  • Charlie Hoots (Republican) [17]
  • Theresa Isom (Democratic) [18]
TBD
10 Neil Whaley Republican2017Yes
Republican hold
11None (new district)
TBD
19 Kevin Blackwell Republican2015Yes
TBD
34 Juan Barnett Democratic2015Yes
Democratic hold
41 Joey Fillingane Republican2006Yes
Republican hold
42 Robin Robinson Republican2023Lost renomination
  • Donald Hartness (Republican) [15]
Republican hold
44 John A. PolkRepublican2011No
TBD
Chris Johnson
(redistricted from SD 45)
Republican2019Yes
45None (new district)
TBD

See also

References

  1. Pender, Geoff (May 9, 2025). "Federal court approves Mississippi legislative redistricting. Special elections will proceed". Mississippi Today . Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  2. "Mississippi state legislative special elections, 2025". Ballotpedia. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  3. Milam, Ben (February 27, 2025). "Mississippi Senate passes redistricting resolution in line with federal order". SuperTalk Mississippi Media. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  4. Vance, Taylor (February 27, 2025). "Mississippi Senate passes redistricting that calls for 10 new elections". Associated Press. Mississippi Today. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  5. "New Mississippi legislative maps head to court for approval despite DeSoto lawmakers' objections - Mississippi Today". March 5, 2025. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  6. "Court to rule on DeSoto County Senate districts with special elections looming - Mississippi Today". April 25, 2025. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  7. "Federal court approves Mississippi legislative redistricting. Special elections will proceed - Mississippi Today". May 9, 2025. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  8. "DeSoto Sen. David Parker will not run in November special election - Mississippi Today". June 6, 2025. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  9. McLaughlin, Grant (February 27, 2025). "MS Senate passes redistricting plan. See who will run in special elections and areas affected". The Clarion Ledger . Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  10. Corder, Frank (March 10, 2025). "Five candidates qualify for Senate District 18 special election". Magnolia Tribune. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  11. Latino, Russ (November 27, 2024). "Jenifer Branning projected to unseat Supreme Court Justice Jim Kitchens". Magnolia Tribune. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
  12. "Mississippi State Senate 18 Special Election General". Decision Desk HQ. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
  13. Parker, Brooke (May 28, 2025). "After 32 years in office, Mississippi Senator announces retirement at 92". WDAM. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  14. Harrell, Jeremy (June 4, 2025). "John Horhn wins Jackson mayoral election". wjtv.com. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "Candidates line up for special Mississippi legislative elections. See who's running". Mississippi Today. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  16. "Hall says he will not run for state Senate". DeSoto County News. June 6, 2025. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  17. 1 2 "Parker to retire from Senate, candidates file for open seat". DeSoto County News. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
  18. 1 2 "Democrats file for state Senate races". DeSoto County News. June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
  19. "MS Senate passes redistricting plan. See who will run in special elections and areas affected". Clarion Ledger. February 27, 2025. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 "Court-ordered special legislative elections: See who's running as of Friday". Magnolia Tribune. June 6, 2025. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  21. "DuPree to run for new State Senate District 45 seat". Magnolia Tribune. May 28, 2025. Retrieved June 6, 2025.