2008 United States Senate special election in Mississippi

For the other Senate election in Mississippi held in parallel, see 2008 United States Senate election in Mississippi.

2008 United States Senate special election in Mississippi
November 4, 2008
 
Nominee Roger Wicker Ronnie Musgrove
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 683,409 560,064
Percentage 54.96% 45.04%
Wicker:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Musgrove:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
U.S. senator before election

Roger Wicker
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Roger Wicker
Republican

The 2008 United States Senate special election in Mississippi was held on November 4, 2008. This election was held on the same day of Thad Cochran's re-election bid in the regularly scheduled Class II election. The winner of this special election served the rest of the Senate term, which ended in January 2013. Unlike most Senate elections, this was a non-partisan election in which the candidate who got a majority of the vote won, and if the first-place candidate did not get 50%, a runoff election with the top two candidates would have been held. In the election, no runoff was necessary as Republican nominee and incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Roger Wicker won election to finish the term.

Background

On December 18, 2007, U.S. Senator Trent Lott resigned in his fourth-term to pursue "something else" in the private sector.[1][2] He ended up starting his own lobbying firm.

Mississippi law stated that the Governor of Mississippi had ten days after receiving official notification of the vacancy to appoint an interim senator pending a special election. On December 31, thirteen days after Lott's resignation, Governor Haley Barbour appointed U.S. Representative Roger Wicker.[3][4][5][6]

Scheduling lawsuit

Barbour scheduled the special election for November 4, 2008.[4] Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood, a member of the Democratic Party, issued a non-binding opinion that the election must be held within one hundred days of Lott's resignation (no later than March 30, 2008), and sued Barbour in Hinds County Circuit Court, arguing that Barbour had 10 days to set a special election within 90 days (no later than March 29, 2008).[7][8] Hood argued the date of the special election to be March 11, the same day as Mississippi's presidential primary.[9] Governor Barbour claimed that the definition of "year" in the law in question is 365 days. Mississippi Secretary of State Eric Clark, the state's chief elections officer and a fellow Democrat, backed the governor's position.[10]

Judge Bobby DeLaughter ruled that the election must take place no later than March 19.[11] On February 6, 2008, after Barbour appealed to the Mississippi Supreme Court, which reversed Judge Delaughter and ruled that the non-partisan special election may be held on November 4.[12][13]

General election

Candidates

Note: Mississippi special elections are nonpartisan. Party labels are for informational purposes only.

Withdrew

  • Ronnie Shows, former U.S. Representative from Bassfield (Democratic) (withdrew February 19, 2008) (endorsed Musgrove)

Declined

Former Governor Ronnie Musgrove, former U.S. Representative and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy, former Jackson mayor Harvey Johnson, Jr., former Governor Ray Mabus, and former Mississippi Attorney General Mike Moore were all considered potential Democratic candidates.[14][16] Of the five, only Musgrove decided to run. Former congressman Ronnie Shows also decided to run, but withdrew on February 19, 2008, after determining that he could not raise enough funds to effectively campaign against Wicker and Musgrove. Shows gave his endorsement to Musgrove.[17][18]

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[19] Tossup October 23, 2008
CQ Politics[20] Lean R October 31, 2008
Rothenberg Political Report[21] Lean R November 2, 2008
Real Clear Politics[22] Lean R October 29, 2008

Polling

Poll Source Date(s) administered Ronnie
Musgrove 		Roger
Wicker
Rasmussen Reports[23] October 27, 2008 43% 54%
Rasmussen Reports[23] September 30, 2008 47% 49%
Rasmussen Reports[23] August 23, 2008 42% 47%
Rasmussen Reports[23] July 28, 2008 42% 48%
Rasmussen Reports[23] June 26, 2008 47% 48%
Rasmussen Reports[24] May 27, 2008 47% 46%

Results

2008 United States Senate special election in Mississippi[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Roger Wicker (incumbent) 683,409 54.96% −8.62%
Nonpartisan Ronnie Musgrove 560,064 45.04% +10.17%
Total votes 1,243,473 100.00% N/A
Republican hold

By county

County[25] Roger Wicker
Republican 		Ronnie Musgrove
Democratic 		Margin Total
# % # % # %
Adams 5,942 39.65% 9,043 60.35% -3,101 -20.69% 14,985
Alcorn 9,624 66.07% 4,942 33.93% 4,682 32.14% 14,566
Amite 3,821 52.56% 3,449 47.44% 372 5.12% 7,270
Attala 4,922 55.66% 3,921 44.34% 1,001 11.32% 8,843
Benton 2,270 51.70% 2,121 48.30% 149 3.39% 4,391
Bolivar 5,062 35.05% 9,380 64.95% -4,318 -29.90% 14,442
Calhoun 4,386 64.00% 2,467 36.00% 1,919 28.00% 6,853
Carroll 3,704 64.06% 2,078 35.94% 1,626 28.12% 5,782
Chickasaw 4,299 49.14% 4,450 50.86% -151 -1.73% 8,749
Choctaw 2,602 66.26% 1,325 33.74% 1,277 32.52% 3,927
Claiborne 1,102 20.80% 4,195 79.20% -3,093 -58.39% 5,297
Clarke 4,782 58.81% 3,349 41.19% 1,433 17.62% 8,131
Clay 4,813 45.29% 5,815 54.71% -1,002 -9.43% 10,628
Coahoma 3,046 31.06% 6,760 68.94% -3,714 -37.87% 9,806
Copiah 6,397 45.71% 7,597 54.29% -1,200 -8.58% 13,994
Covington 5,033 54.73% 4,163 45.27% 970 9.46% 9,196
DeSoto 41,363 66.77% 20,585 33.23% 20,778 33.54% 61,948
Forrest 14,621 55.82% 11,574 44.18% 3,047 11.63% 26,195
Franklin 2,604 56.87% 1,975 43.13% 629 13.74% 4,579
George 5,838 65.05% 3,137 34.95% 2,701 30.09% 8,975
Greene 3,479 61.22% 2,204 38.78% 1,275 22.44% 5,683
Grenada 5,993 55.37% 4,830 44.63% 1,163 10.75% 10,823
Hancock 10,373 63.43% 5,981 36.57% 4,392 26.86% 16,354
Harrison 35,457 59.03% 24,608 40.97% 10,849 18.06% 60,065
Hinds 35,743 33.95% 69,536 66.05% -33,793 -32.10% 105,279
Holmes 2,145 23.84% 6,852 76.16% -4,707 -52.32% 8,997
Humphreys 1,593 32.11% 3,368 67.89% -1,775 -35.78% 4,961
Issaquena 379 42.20% 519 57.80% -140 -15.59% 898
Itawamba 6,790 69.99% 2,912 30.01% 3,878 39.97% 9,702
Jackson 32,449 62.05% 19,847 37.95% 12,602 24.10% 52,296
Jasper 3,816 42.66% 5,130 57.34% -1,314 -14.69% 8,946
Jefferson 826 19.00% 3,522 81.00% -2,696 -62.01% 4,348
Jefferson Davis 2,775 39.07% 4,328 60.93% -1,553 -21.86% 7,103
Jones 18,066 63.05% 10,589 36.95% 7,477 26.09% 28,655
Kemper 1,941 38.57% 3,092 61.43% -1,151 -22.87% 5,033
Lafayette 10,656 60.04% 7,092 39.96% 3,564 20.08% 17,748
Lamar 17,119 73.21% 6,266 26.79% 10,853 46.41% 23,385
Lauderdale 18,846 59.37% 12,898 40.63% 5,948 18.74% 31,744
Lawrence 3,803 56.17% 2,967 43.83% 836 12.35% 6,770
Leake 4,695 51.76% 4,375 48.24% 320 3.53% 9,070
Lee 22,375 64.95% 12,074 35.05% 10,301 29.90% 34,449
Leflore 4,206 33.28% 8,433 66.72% -4,227 -33.44% 12,639
Lincoln 9,768 60.62% 6,345 39.38% 3,423 21.24% 16,113
Lowndes 14,489 55.27% 11,727 44.73% 2,762 10.54% 26,216
Madison 26,920 58.78% 18,874 41.22% 8,046 17.57% 45,794
Marion 7,729 60.78% 4,987 39.22% 2,742 21.56% 12,716
Marshall 7,191 47.56% 7,928 52.44% -737 -4.87% 15,119
Monroe 9,752 57.70% 7,148 42.30% 2,604 15.41% 16,900
Montgomery 2,980 54.36% 2,502 45.64% 478 8.72% 5,482
Neshoba 7,384 66.18% 3,773 33.82% 3,611 32.37% 11,157
Newton 6,166 64.42% 3,406 35.58% 2,760 28.83% 9,572
Noxubee 1,853 29.42% 4,445 70.58% -2,592 -41.16% 6,298
Oktibbeha 9,891 55.06% 8,073 44.94% 1,818 10.12% 17,964
Panola 7,192 45.74% 8,533 54.26% -1,341 -8.53% 15,725
Pearl River 13,762 64.63% 7,532 35.37% 6,230 29.26% 21,294
Perry 3,487 64.05% 1,957 35.95% 1,530 28.10% 5,444
Pike 8,139 46.65% 9,307 53.35% -1,168 -6.69% 17,446
Pontotoc 9,230 73.68% 3,297 26.32% 5,933 47.36% 12,527
Prentiss 6,652 62.94% 3,917 37.06% 2,735 25.88% 10,569
Quitman 1,427 37.08% 2,421 62.92% -994 -25.83% 3,848
Rankin 45,488 73.54% 16,363 26.46% 29,125 47.09% 61,851
Scott 6,019 53.60% 5,210 46.40% 809 7.20% 11,229
Sharkey 920 34.28% 1,764 65.72% -844 -31.45% 2,684
Simpson 6,844 56.50% 5,269 43.50% 1,575 13.00% 12,113
Smith 5,480 67.86% 2,595 32.14% 2,885 35.73% 8,075
Stone 4,384 63.10% 2,564 36.90% 1,820 26.19% 6,948
Sunflower 3,462 32.15% 7,307 67.85% -3,845 -35.70% 10,769
Tallahatchie 2,788 42.18% 3,821 57.82% -1,033 -15.63% 6,609
Tate 7,196 59.41% 4,916 40.59% 2,280 18.82% 12,112
Tippah 6,315 67.20% 3,082 32.80% 3,233 34.40% 9,397
Tishomingo 5,477 67.33% 2,657 32.67% 2,820 34.67% 8,134
Tunica 1,261 32.34% 2,638 67.66% -1,377 -35.32% 3,899
Union 8,082 67.56% 3,880 32.44% 4,202 35.13% 11,962
Walthall 3,822 51.20% 3,643 48.80% 179 2.40% 7,465
Warren 10,844 51.75% 10,109 48.25% 735 3.51% 20,953
Washington 6,442 34.87% 12,033 65.13% -5,591 -30.26% 18,475
Wayne 5,204 53.80% 4,469 46.20% 735 7.60% 9,673
Webster 3,800 71.70% 1,500 28.30% 2,300 43.40% 5,300
Wilkinson 1,531 33.19% 3,082 66.81% -1,551 -33.62% 4,613
Winston 5,344 53.71% 4,605 46.29% 739 7.43% 9,949
Yalobusha 3,684 55.12% 3,000 44.88% 684 10.23% 6,684
Yazoo 5,254 48.25% 5,636 51.75% -382 -3.51% 10,890
Totals 683,409 54.96% 560,064 45.04% 123,345 9.92% 1,243,473

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

By congressional district

Wicker won three of four congressional districts, including two that elected Democrats.[26]

District Wicker Musgrove Representative
1st 61% 39% Travis Childers
2nd 36% 64% Bennie Thompson
3rd 59% 41% Chip Pickering (110th Congress)
Gregg Harper (111th Congress)
4th 62% 38% Gene Taylor

See also

References

  1. ^ Nossiter, Adam & Herszenhorn, David M. (November 26, 2007). "Mississippi's Lott to Leave Senate Seat". The New York Times.
  2. ^ Congressional Quarterly, December 19, 2007 Archived January 4, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Bloomberg: Wicker Named to Replace Mississippi's Lott in Senate
  4. ^ a b Hattiesburg American: Barbour to name leader to fill Lott's seat
  5. ^ http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071231/NEWS/712310319/1001/news Jackson Clarion-Ledger Senate Pick to be Unveiled Today
  6. ^ Wicker launches Senate campaign | clarionledger.com | The Clarion-Ledger
  7. ^ FOX News: Trent Lott Resigns From U.S. Senate After Nearly Two Decades of Service
  8. ^ "WLBT 3 – Jackson, MS: Hood Files Suit to Have Special Election Earlier". Archived from the original on January 4, 2008. Retrieved January 3, 2008.
  9. ^ "WLBT 3 – Jackson, MS: AG Challenges Timing of Senate Election". Archived from the original on January 4, 2008. Retrieved January 3, 2008.
  10. ^ The ClarionLedger: AG opinion backs Democrats on timing of election
  11. ^ Judge: AG right in election date spat | clarionledger.com | The Clarion-Ledger
  12. ^ "WLBT 3 – Jackson, MS: Barbour's Attorney Appeals Special-Elex Ruling". Archived from the original on December 6, 2008. Retrieved January 17, 2008.
  13. ^ djournal.com
  14. ^ a b "Wicker Launches Senate Campaign", The Clarion-Ledger, January 1, 2008
  15. ^ "Former governor Musgrove to run for U.S. Senate". Archived from the original on January 8, 2008. Retrieved January 7, 2008.
  16. ^ Democrat Finally Jumps into Mississippi Senate Race Yahoo! News January 7, 2008
  17. ^ Shows out of Senate race for Lott's seat | clarionledger.com | The Clarion-Ledger
  18. ^ Associated Press via The Hattiesburg American, January 5, 2008
  19. ^ "2008 Senate Race ratings for October 23, 2008". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  20. ^ Race Ratings Chart: Senate Archived October 28, 2010, at the Wayback Machine CQ Politics
  21. ^ "2008 Senate ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  22. ^ "2008 RCP Averages & Senate Results". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  23. ^ a b c d e Rasmussen Reports
  24. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  25. ^ a b Hosemann, Delbert (December 3, 2008). "US Senate Special" (PDF). Secretary of State of Mississippi. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 15, 2025. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
  26. ^ "Mississippi: 2008 Election".
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