2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi

The 2008 congressional elections in Mississippi were held on November 4, 2008 to determine who will represent the state of Mississippi in the United States House of Representatives. The primary election for candidates seeking the nomination of the Republican Party or the Democratic Party was held on March 11, with a run-off being held for the Republican nomination in the first and third districts, and for the Democratic nomination in the first district.

2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi

← 2006 November 4, 2008 (2008-11-04) 2010 →

All 4 Mississippi seats to the United States House of Representatives
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Last election 2 2
Seats before 3 1
Seats won 3 1
Seat change Steady Steady
Popular vote 731,805 527,330
Percentage 57.86% 41.69%
Swing Increase 14.52% Decrease 8.96%

Mississippi has four seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States census. Representatives were elected for two-year terms; those elected served in the 111th Congress from January 4, 2009 until January 3, 2011. The election coincided with the United States Senate special election to fill the remainder of Trent Lott's term, the regularly scheduled 2008 United States Senate election, and the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

With the results of the 1st congressional district special election included, the Mississippi congressional delegation comprised three Democrats and one Republican. As of 2024, this is the last time in which Democrats won a majority of congressional districts from Mississippi.

Overview

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2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi
Party Votes Percentage Seats +/–
Democratic 731,805 57.86% 3  
Republican 527,330 41.69% 1  
Independents 3,736 0.30% 0  
Green 1,876 0.15% 0  
Totals 1,264,747 100.00% 4  

District 1

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2008 Mississippi's 1st congressional district election
 
     
Nominee Travis Childers Greg Davis
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 185,959 149,818
Percentage 54.46% 43.88%

 
 
Childers:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Davis:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
     No Data

U.S. Representative before election

Travis Childers
Democratic

Elected U.S. Representative

Travis Childers
Democratic

This district covers the northeastern part of the state, including the cities of Columbus, Grenada, Oxford, Southaven, and Tupelo. Democrat Travis Childers was the Representative to the district, having defeated Republican Greg Davis in an April 22 special election. Childers and Davis faced each other again in November[1] along with Green Party candidate John Wages, Jr., a college professor and farmer; and independent candidate Wally Pang, a restaurant owner.[2] CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Leans Democratic', and Childers was re-elected with 54.45% of the vote.

Mississippi's 1st congressional district election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Travis Childers (inc.) 185,959 54.46
Republican Greg Davis 149,818 43.88
Independent Wally Pang 3,736 1.09
Green John M. Wages, Jr. 1,876 0.55
Total votes 341,389 100.00
Democratic hold

District 2

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2008 Mississippi's 2nd congressional district election
 
← 2006
2010 →
     
Nominee Bennie Thompson Richard Cook
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 201,606 90,364
Percentage 69.05% 30.95%

 
 
Thompson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Cook:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
     No Data

U.S. Representative before election

Bennie Thompson
Democratic

Elected U.S. Representative

Bennie Thompson
Democratic

This district consists of the Mississippi Delta and most of the capital city of Jackson and is Mississippi's only majority-black district. Democrat Bennie Thompson had been in office since 1993, when he won a special election to replace Mike Espy who had resigned to become Secretary of Agriculture under President Bill Clinton. Thompson was challenged on the Republican side by teacher Richard Cook.[2] CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat' and Thompson was comfortably re-elected with 69.05% of the vote.

Mississippi's 2nd congressional district election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bennie Thompson (inc.) 201,606 69.05
Republican Richard Cook 90,364 30.95
Total votes 291,970 100.00
Democratic hold

District 3

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2008 Mississippi's 3rd congressional district election
 
← 2006
2010 →
     
Nominee Gregg Harper Joel Gill
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 213,171 127,698
Percentage 62.54% 37.46%

 
 
Harper:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Gill:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
     No Data

U.S. Representative before election

Chip Pickering
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Gregg Harper
Republican

Republican Chip Pickering retired from Congress at this election after 12 years of service. The candidates were Republican Gregg Harper, attorney and chairman of the Rankin County Republican Party; Democrat Joel Gill, Pickens town alderman and a cattle broker; and independent candidate Jim Giles, a former systems engineer and white supremacist.[2] CQ Politics correctly forecast the race as 'Safe Republican', as Harper was elected with 62.54% of the vote

Mississippi's 3rd congressional district election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gregg Harper 213,171 62.54
Democratic Joel Gill 127,698 37.46
Total votes 340,869 100.00
Republican hold

District 4

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2008 Mississippi's 4th congressional district election
 
← 2006
2010 →
     
Nominee Gene Taylor John McCay III
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 216,542 73,977
Percentage 74.54% 25.46%

 
 
Taylor:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
McCay:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
     No Data

U.S. Representative before election

Gene Taylor
Democratic

Elected U.S. Representative

Gene Taylor
Democratic

Democrat Gene Taylor had represented the district since 1989. He was challenged on the Republican side by Methodist minister and Air National Guard officer John McCay III.CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Safe Democrat' and Taylor was re-elected with nearly 75% of the vote.

Mississippi's 4th congressional district election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gene Taylor (inc.) 216,542 74.54
Republican John McCay III 73,977 25.46
Total votes 290,519 100.00
Democratic hold

References

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  1. ^ "The Clarion Ledger". The Clarion Ledger. Retrieved April 21, 2018.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ a b c "2018 Mississippi Elections, Candidates, Races and Voting". www.uselections.com. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
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