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.

2003 Mississippi elections
Elections in Mississippi
Federal government
U.S. President
U.S. Senate
U.S. House
State government
State elections
Gubernatorial elections
State Senate elections
House of Representatives elections
Attorney General elections
Ballot measures
2001
2004
2020
City of Jackson
Mayoral elections

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.[1]

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.[2][lower-alpha 1]

Governor
Main article: Mississippi gubernatorial election, 2003

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.

Results for Governor's Race[3]
Party Candidate Popular Votes Pop. Vote % Electoral Votes Electoral Vote %
Republican Haley Barbour 470,404 52.59% 76 62.30%
Democrat Ronnie Musgrove 409,787 45.81% 46 37.70%
Constitution John Thomas Cripps 6,317 0.71% 0 0.00%
Reform Shawn O'Hara 4,070 0.46% 0 0.00%
Green Sherman Lee Dillon 3,909 0.44% 0 0.00%
TOTAL 894,487 100.00% 122 100.0%

Lieutenant governor
Mississippi Lieutenant Gubernatorial election, 2003
November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04)
 
Nominee Amy Tuck Barbara Blackmon
Party Republican Democratic
Electoral vote 84 38
Popular vote 542,129 329,454
Percentage 60.98% 37.06%
County Results:
Blackmon:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Tuck:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Lieutenant Governor before election

Amy Tuck
Republican

 Elected Lieutenant Governor

Amy Tuck
Republican

Candidates

Results
Democratic primary results[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Barbara Blackmon 283,177 53.7%
Democratic James L. Roberts, Jr. 194,204 36.9%
Democratic Troy D. Brown, Sr. 49,515 9.4%
Total votes 526,896 100.0

Candidate

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.

Results
Results for Lieutenant Governor's Race[7]
Party Candidate Popular Votes Pop. Vote % Electoral Votes Electoral Vote %
Republican Amy Tuck 542,129 60.98% 84 68.85%
Democrat Barbara Blackmon 329,454 37.06% 38 31.15%
Reform Anna Reives 17,481 1.97% 0 0.00%
TOTAL 889,064 100.00% 122 100.00%

Attorney general
Mississippi Attorney General election, 2003
November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04)
 
Nominee Jim Hood Scott Newton
Party Democratic Republican
Electoral vote 100 22
Popular vote 548,046 326,042
Percentage 62.69% 37.30%
County Results:
Hood:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Newton:      50–60%      60–70%
Attorney General before election

Mike Moore
Democratic

 Elected Attorney General

Jim Hood
Democratic

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.

Results
Results for Attorney General's Race[8]
Party Candidate Popular Votes Pop. Vote % Electoral Votes Electoral Vote %
Democrat Jim Hood 548,046 62.69% 100 81.97%
Republican Scott Newton 326,042 37.30% 22 18.03%
TOTAL 874,088 100.00% 122 100.0%

State Treasurer
Mississippi State Treasurer election, 2003
November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04)
 
Nominee Tate Reeves Gary Anderson
Party Republican Democratic
Electoral vote 66 56
Popular vote 447,860 403,307
Percentage 51.80% 46.64%
County Results:
Anderson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Reeves:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
State Treasurer before election

Marshall Bennett
Democratic

 Elected State Treasurer

Tate Reeves
Republican

Candidates
  • Gary Anderson
  • Cindy Ayers Elliott
  • Robert H. Smith

Results
Democratic primary results[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gary Anderson 197,320 40.1%
Democratic Robert H. Smith 173,866 35.3%
Democratic Cindy Ayers Eliott 121,468 24.7%
Total votes 492,654 100.0

Runoff
Democratic runoff results[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gary Anderson 189,388 53.3%
Democratic Robert H. Smith 165,661 46.7%
Total votes 355,049 100.0

Candidates

Results
Republican primary results[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tate Reeves 81,263 48.6%
Republican Wayne Burkes 51,896 31.1%
Republican Andrew Ketchings 33,969 20.3%
Total votes 167,128 100.0

Runoff
Republican runoff results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tate Reeves 49,466 69.0%
Republican Wayne Burkes 22,206 31.0%
Total votes 71,672 100.0

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.

Results
Results for State Treasurer's Race[13]
Party Candidate Popular Votes Pop. Vote % Electoral Votes Electoral Vote %
Republican Tate Reeves 447,860 51.80% 66 54.10%
Democrat Gary Anderson 403,307 46.64% 56 45.90%
Reform Lee Dilworth 13,507 1.56% 0 0.00%
TOTAL 864,674 100.00% 122 100.0%

State Auditor
Mississippi State Auditor election, 2003
November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04)
 
Nominee Phil Bryant Billy Blackburn
Party Republican Reform
Electoral vote 119 3
Popular vote 587,212 182,292
Percentage 76.31% 23.69%
County Results:
Tuck:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%     >90%
Blackburn:      50–60%
State Auditor before election

Phil Bryant
Republican

 Elected State Auditor

Phil Bryant
Republican

Candidate
  • Billy Blackburn

Candidate

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.

Results
Results for State Auditor's Race[14]
Party Candidate Popular Votes Pop. Vote % Electoral Votes Electoral Vote %
Republican Phil Bryant 587,212 76.31% 119 97.54%
Reform Billy Blackburn 182,292 23.69% 3 2.46%
TOTAL 769,504 100.00% 122 100.0%

Secretary of State
Mississippi Secretary of State election, 2003
November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04)
 
Nominee Eric Clark Julio Del Castillo Brenda Blackburn
Party Democratic Republican Reform
Electoral vote 117 5 0
Popular vote 610,461 201,765 47,296
Percentage 71.02% 23.47% 5.50%
County Results:
Clark:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Castillo:      50–60%
Secretary of State before election

Eric Clark
Democratic

 Elected Secretary of State

Eric Clark
Democratic

Candidate

Candidate
  • Brenda Blackburn

Candidate
  • Julio Del Castillo

General election

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

Results
Results for Secretary of State's Race[15]
Party Candidate Popular Votes Pop. Vote % Electoral Votes Electoral Vote %
Democrat Eric Clark 610,461 71.02% 117 95.90%
Republican Julio Del Castillo 201,765 23.47% 5 4.10%
Reform Brenda Blackburn 47,296 5.50% 0 0.00%
TOTAL 859,522 100.00% 122 100.0%

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce
Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce election, 2003
November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04)
 
Nominee Lester Spell Max Phillips
Party Democratic Republican
Electoral vote 105 17
Popular vote 564,283 274,097
Percentage 66.11% 32.11%
Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce before election

Lester Spell
Democratic

 Elected Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce

Lester Spell
Democratic

Candidate

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

Results
Republican primary results[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Roger D. Crowder 64,521 41.7%
Republican Max Phillips 38,731 25.0%
Republican Kyle Weston Magee 26,068 16.8%
Republican Fred T. Smith 25,457 16.4%
Total votes 154,777 100.0

Runoff
Republican runoff results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Max Phillips 34,840 50.3%
Republican Roger Crowder 34,404 49.7%
Total votes 69,244 100.0

General election

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

Results
Results for Commissioner of Agriculture and Industry Race[17]
Party Candidate Popular Votes Pop. Vote % Electoral Votes Electoral Vote %
Democrat Lester Spell 564,283 66.11% 105 86.07%
Republican Max Phillips 274,097 32.11% 17 13.93%
Reform Bob Claunch 15,229 1.78% 0 0.00%
TOTAL 853,609 100.00% 122 100.0%

Commissioner of Insurance
Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance election, 2003
November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04)
 
Nominee George Dale Aaron DuPuy
Party Democratic Republican
Electoral vote 114 8
Popular vote 610,341 211,859
Percentage 71.27% 24.77%
Commissioner of Insurance before election

George Dale
Democratic

 Elected Commissioner of Insurance

George Dale
Democratic

Candidate
  • George Dale, incumbent

Candidate
  • Barbara Dale Washer

Candidate
  • Aaron DuPuy

General election

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

Results
Results for Commissioner of Insurance Race[18]
Party Candidate Popular Votes Pop. Vote % Electoral Votes Electoral Vote %
Democrat George Dale 610,341 71.27% 114 93.44%
Republican Aaron DuPuy 211,859 24.77% 8 6.56%
Reform Barbara Dale Washer 32,969 3.86% 0 0.00%
TOTAL 100.00% 122 100.0%

Public Service Commission
Mississippi Public Service Commissioner, Northern District election, 2003
November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04)
 
Nominee Bo Robinson Kerry Hunt
Party Democratic Reform
Popular vote 216,331 41,610
Percentage 83.9% 16.1%
Northern District Commissioner before election

Bo Robinson
Democratic

 Elected Northern District Commissioner

Bo Robinson
Democratic

Candidates
  • Bo Robinson, incumbent
  • Benton White
Results
Democratic primary results[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bo Robinson 158,810 79.6%
Democratic Benton White 40,632 20.4%
Total votes 199,442 100.0
Candidate
  • Kerry Hunt

General election

Democrat Bo Robinson won over Reform Kerry Hunt.[20]

Results
Mississippi Public Service Commissioner, Northern District election, 2003[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bo Robinson 216,331 83.9%
Reform Kerry Hunt 41,610 16.1%
Total votes 257,941 100.0
Democratic hold
Mississippi Public Service Commissioner, Central District election, 2003
November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04)
 
Nominee Nielsen Cochran L.D. Horne, Sr.
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 164,394 110,779
Percentage 58.5% 39.4%
Central District Commissioner before election

Nielsen Cochran
Republican

 Elected Central District Commissioner

Nielsen Cochran
Republican

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.[21]

Results
Mississippi Public Service Commissioner, Central District election, 2003[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Nielsen Cochran 164,394 58.5%
Democratic L.D. Horne, Sr. 110,779 39.4%
Reform Mike R. Ivey 6,072 2.2%
Total votes 281,245 100.0
Republican hold
Mississippi Public Service Commissioner, Southern District election, 2003
November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04)
 
Nominee Michael Callahan Larry Albritton
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 150,599 138,147
Percentage 51.3% 47.0%
Southern District Commissioner before election

Michael Callahan
Democratic

 Elected Southern District Commissioner

Michael Callahan
Democratic

Candidate
  • Michael Callahan, incumbent
Candidate
  • Anthony Sahuque

Candidate
  • Larry Albritton

General election

Democrat Michael Callahan won over Republican Larry Albritton and Reform Anthony Sahuque.[22]

Results
Mississippi Public Service Commissioner, Southern District election, 2003[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Callahan 150,599 51.3%
Republican Larry Albritton 138,147 47.0%
Reform Anthony Sahuque 4,962 1.7%
Total votes 293,708 100.0
Democratic hold

Transportation Commission
Mississippi Transportation Commissioner, Northern District election, 2003
November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04)
 
Nominee Bill R. Minor John M. Caldwell, Sr.
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 156,667 115,182
Percentage 57.6% 42.4%
Northern District Commissioner before election

Zach Stewart
Democratic

 Elected Northern District Commissioner

Bill R. Minor
Democratic

Candidates
  • A.T. Marlar, Jr.
  • William R. (Bill) Minor
  • Thomas (Tod) Todd
Results
Democratic primary results[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William R. Minor 108,558 54.3%
Democratic Thomas Todd 67,063 33.6%
Democratic A.T. Marlar, Jr. 24,155 12.1%
Total votes 199,776 100.0
Candidates
  • John M. Caldwell, Sr.
  • Larry Lee
Results
Republican primary results[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John M. Caldwell, Sr. 25,985 79.9%
Republican Larry Lee 6,517 20.1%
Total votes 32,502 100.0

General election

Democrat Bill R. Minor won over Republican John M. Caldwell, Sr.[24]

Results
Mississippi Transportation Commissioner, Northern District election, 2003[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William R. Minor 156,667 57.6%
Republican John M. Caldwell, Sr. 115,182 42.4%
Total votes 271,849 100.0
Democratic hold
Mississippi Transportation Commissioner, Central District election, 2003
November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04)
 
Nominee Dick Hall W.C. Alderman
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 152,320 123,013
Percentage 54.3% 43.9%
Central District Commissioner before election

Dick Hall
Republican

 Elected Central District Commissioner

Dick Hall
Republican

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.[20]

Results
Mississippi Transportation Commissioner, Central District election, 2003[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dick Hall 152,320 54.3%
Democratic W.C. Alderman 123,013 43.9%
Reform Jimmy Loper 4,986 1.8%
Total votes 280,319 100.0
Republican hold
Mississippi Transportation Commissioner, Southern District election, 2003
November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04)
 
Nominee Wayne Brown Arlin Regan
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 165,109 117,941
Percentage 56.1% 40.1%
Southern District Commissioner before election

Wayne Brown
Democratic

 Elected Southern District Commissioner

Wayne Brown
Democratic

Candidate
Candidate
  • Virgil C. Smith
Candidates
  • Alana Abney
  • Arlin Regan
Results
Republican primary results[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Arlin Regan 31,066 52.3%
Republican Alana Abney 28,376 47.7%
Total votes 59,442 100.0

General election

Democrat Wayne H. Brown won over Republican Arlin Regan and Reform Virgil C. Smith.[24]

Results
Mississippi Transportation Commissioner, Southern District election, 2003[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Wayne H. Brown 165,109 56.1%
Republican Arlin Regan 117,941 40.1%
Reform Virgil C. Smith 11,247 1.8%
Total votes 294,297 100.0
Democratic hold

Notes
  1. The electoral vote system was repealed via a public referendum in 2020.

References
  1. Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005, p. 74-75.
  2. Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005, p. 537.
  3. Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005, p. 614.
  4. "Candidate aims to break race barrier". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  5. "Judge James L. Roberts Jr. lauded for public service - State of Mississippi Judiciary News". State of Mississippi Judiciary. January 21, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  6. Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005, p. 579.
  7. Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005, p. 615-616.
  8. Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005, p. 618-619.
  9. Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005, p. 581.
  10. Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005, p. 606.
  11. Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005, p. 595.
  12. Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005, p. 611.
  13. Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005, p. 619-620.
  14. Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005, p. 621-622.
  15. Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005, p. 616-617.
  16. Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005, p. 597.
  17. Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005, p. 624-625.
  18. Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005, p. 622-623.
  19. Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005, p. 582.
  20. Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005, p. 627.
  21. Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005, p. 625.
  22. Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005, p. 626.
  23. Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005, p. 598.
  24. Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2005, p. 628.

Works cited
  • Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2004–2008. Jackson: Mississippi Secretary of State. 2005.
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