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2015 Mississippi gubernatorial election 
Summary
The 2015 Mississippi gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 2015, to elect the Governor of Mississippi. Incumbent Republican Governor Phil Bryant ran for re-election to a second and final term in office. This is the highest percentage that a Republican has ever won in a gubernatorial election in Mississippi.
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  Bryant: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Gray: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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The election gained national news coverage and attention due to the unexpected Democratic nominee selection of truck driver and former firefighter, Robert Gray, who had not had any political experience prior to his candidacy.[1]
As of 2023, this is by far the best performance by a Republican in a gubernatorial election in Mississippi. This is also the only time that the following counties have voted Republican for governor: Clay, Marshall, Quitman, Sharkey, and Tallahatchie.
Background edit
Mississippi is one of nine states and territories that has lifetime limits of two terms for its governor. In 2011, with incumbent Republican Governor Haley Barbour term-limited, Republican Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant was elected to succeed him. Bryant won the Republican primary with 59% of the vote and then defeated the Democratic nominee, Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree, with 61% of the vote.
Republican primary edit
Candidates edit
Declared edit
- Phil Bryant, incumbent Governor[2]
- Mitch Young[3]
Declined edit
- Chris McDaniel, state senator and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014[4][5]
- Michael Watson, state senator[6][7]
Result edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Phil Bryant (incumbent) | 256,689 | 91.86% | |
| Republican | Mitch Young | 22,738 | 8.14% | |
| Total votes | 279,427 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic primary edit
Candidates edit
Declared edit
- Robert Gray, truck driver and retired firefighter[3][9]
- Valerie Short, physician[10]
- Vicki Slater, attorney[11][12]
Declined edit
- Travis Childers, former U.S. Representative and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2014[13]
- Jim Hood, Attorney General of Mississippi (running for re-election)[14][15]
- Bill Luckett, Mayor of Clarksdale and candidate for governor in 2011[11][16]
- Dick Molpus, former Secretary of State of Mississippi and nominee for governor in 1995[11]
- Brandon Presley, Commissioner for the Northern District of the Mississippi Public Service Commission and former Mayor of Nettleton (running for re-election)[17]
Result edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Robert Gray | 152,087 | 50.80% | |
| Democratic | Vicki Slater | 91,104 | 30.43% | |
| Democratic | Valerie Short | 56,177 | 18.77% | |
| Total votes | 299,368 | 100.00% | ||
Reform Party nomination edit
Candidate edit
- Shawn O'Hara, perennial candidate[19]
General election edit
Predictions edit
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[20] | Safe R | October 26, 2015 |
| Rothenberg Political Report[21] | Safe R | October 27, 2015 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[22] | Safe R | October 29, 2015 |
| DKE[23] | Safe R | October 29, 2015 |
Polling edit
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Phil Bryant (R) |
Robert Gray (D) |
Shawn O'Hara (Ref) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason-Dixon | October 21–25, 2015 | 625 | ± 4% | 66% | 28% | 1% | 5% |
Hypothetical polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Phil Bryant (R) |
Jim Hood (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling | July 10–13, 2014 | 691 | ± 3.7% | 44% | 33% | — | 22% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Phil Bryant (R) |
Brandon Presley (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling | July 10–13, 2014 | 691 | ± 3.7% | 49% | 26% | — | 25% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Phil Bryant (R) |
Valerie Short (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason-Dixon | April 21–23, 2015 | 625 | ± 4% | 63% | 28% | 3%[24] | 6% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Phil Bryant (R) |
Vicki Slater (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason-Dixon | April 21–23, 2015 | 625 | ± 4% | 61% | 30% | 2%[24] | 7% |
Result edit
| Candidate | Party | Popular vote | Electoral vote | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |||
| Phil Bryant (incumbent) | Republican Party | 480,399 | 66.24 | 85 | 69.67 | |
| Robert Gray | Democratic Party | 234,858 | 32.38 | 37 | 30.33 | |
| Shawn O'Hara | Reform Party | 9,950 | 1.37 | |||
| Total | 725,207 | 100.00 | 122 | 100.00 | ||
| Source: Mississippi Secretary of State | ||||||
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican edit
- Adams (Largest city: Natchez)
- Clay (Largest city: West Point)
- Kemper (Largest city: De Kalb)
- Marshall (Largest city: Holly Springs)
- Quitman (Largest city: Lambert)
- Sharkey (Largest city: Rolling Fork)
- Tallahatchie (Largest city: Charleston)
References edit
- ^ Robertson, Campbell (September 7, 2015). "Chosen by Mississippi Democrats, Shy Trucker is at a Crossroad". The New York Times.
- ^ Geoff Pender (January 18, 2015). "Power Rankings: Top Session Issues". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
- ^ a b Wagster Pettus, Emily (February 26, 2015). "Bryant to face primary challenge from Mitch Young". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
- ^ Geoff Pender (July 19, 2014). "Pender: Who's running for what in '15". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
- ^ Pender, Geoff (February 26, 2015). "McDaniel running for re-election to state Senate". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
- ^ Alexander Burns (June 24, 2014). "Mississippi's revolution may be just starting". Politico. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
- ^ Pender, Geoff (February 26, 2015). "Watson running for re-election, not higher office". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
- ^ "2015 REPUBLICAN PRIMARY". Mississippi Secretary of State. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
- ^ Nave, R.L. (August 5, 2015). "Robert Gray in (Truck) Driver's Seat to Challenge Gov. Phil Bryant". Jackson Free Press. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
- ^ Wagster Pettus, Emily (February 27, 2015). "All 8 statewide Mississippi officials challenged in election". The Sun Herald. Archived from the original on March 1, 2015. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
- ^ a b c Pender, Geoff (February 14, 2015). "Candidates playing chicken with deadline". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
- ^ Pender, Geoff (February 19, 2015). "Democratic Party announcing Slater for governor". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
- ^ Abby Livingston (September 25, 2013). "Mississippi Republicans Wait for Cochran's Decision". Roll Call. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
- ^ Floyd Ingram (July 31, 2013). "Jim Hood to open state office in Houston". Chickasaw Journal. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
- ^ "AP analysis: Mississippi party leaders preparing strategy for 2015". Gulf Live. August 25, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
- ^ Wright, Jesse (January 13, 2015). "'Draft Bill' movement not gaining traction with Luckett". Clarksdale Press Register. Archived from the original on January 18, 2015. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
- ^ Gates, Jimmie E. (December 30, 2014). "Brandon Presley says he isn't running for governor". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
- ^ "2015 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY". Mississippi Secretary of State. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
- ^ "2015 Candidate Qualifying List" (PDF). Mississippi Secretary of State. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
- ^ "2015-16 Governor Race ratings". The Cook Political Report.
- ^ "Gubernatorial Ratings | Inside Elections". www.insideelections.com.
- ^ "Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball » 2016 Governor". crystalball.centerforpolitics.org.
- ^ "Election Outlook: 2016 Race Ratings". Daily Kos. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
- ^ a b Shawn O'Hara (Reform)
External links edit
Campaign websites (archived)
- Phil Bryant (R)
- Robert Gray (D)
- Valerie Short (D)
- Vicki Slater (D)