United States Senate special election in Mississippi, 2018 (November 27 runoff)

Elections in Mississippi, 2018

* General election: Nov. 6
* Voter registration deadline: Oct. 8 (in-person); Oct. 9 (postmark by mail)
* Early voting: N/A
* Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 3

* Online registration: No
* Same-day registration: No
* Voter ID: Photo ID required
* Poll times: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

* * *

On the ballot: U.S. Senate • U.S. House • Congressional special elections • Special state legislative • Supreme court • Appellate courts • Local judges • School boards • Democratic primaries • Republican primaries • U.S. Senate special election

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U.S. Senate, Mississippi special

General election
Election details
Filing deadline: April 24, 2018
General: November 6, 2018
General runoff: November 27, 2018

* * *

Pre-election incumbent:
Cindy Hyde-Smith
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voting in Mississippi
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018
See also
U.S. Senate (regular) • U.S. Senate (special) • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th
Mississippi elections, 2018
U.S. Congress elections, 2018
U.S. Senate elections, 2018
U.S. House elections, 2018

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There were two elections for the U.S. Senate in Mississippi in 2018. The first was the regularly scheduled election on November 6, 2018, to fill the state's Class I seat held by Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.). The Democratic and Republican primaries for that election were June 5, 2018. The second, a nonpartisan special election on November 6, 2018, filled the Class II seat left vacant by Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.). A runoff in this election was held on November 27, 2018. The winner of the special election served the remainder of Cochran's term until January 3, 2021.

Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) defeated former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy (D) in the November 27, 2018, runoff for the U.S. Senate special election in Mississippi. They advanced to the runoff after competing against Tobey Bartee (D) and state Sen. Chris McDaniel (R) in the nonpartisan special election on November 6, 2018, and no candidate won a majority of the vote. Hyde-Smith received 42 percent of the vote and Espy 41 percent.

Hyde-Smith completed former Sen. Thad Cochran's (R) term, which ended in 2021.

Thirty-five of the 100 seats in the United States Senate were up for election in 2018, including two seats up for special election. Republicans gained four previously Democratic-held seats and Democrats gained two previously Republican-held seats, resulting in a net gain of two seats for the Republican Party and a 53-seat majority in the chamber. This race was identified as a 2018 battleground that might have affected partisan control of the chamber in the 116th Congress. At the time of the election, Republicans held a 51-seat Senate majority. Democrats held 47 seats, and the two independents caucused with them. Democrats faced greater partisan risk in 2018, as they were defending 26 seats while Republicans were only defending nine. Democrats had to defend seats in 10 states Donald Trump (R) won. The GOP defended one Senate seat in a state Hillary Clinton (D) won.

Three election forecasters called this race Leans Republican, Likely Republican, and Solid Republican, respectively. No Democrat had represented Mississippi since John C. Stennis in 1989.

## Contents

* 1 Candidates and election results
* 2 Candidate profiles
* 3 Polls
* 4 Campaign finance
* 5 Satellite spending
* 6 Race ratings
* 7 Campaign ads
* 7.1 Mike Espy
* 7.1.1 Support
* 7.1.2 Oppose
* 7.2 Cindy Hyde-Smith
* 7.2.1 Support
* 7.2.2 Oppose
* 8 Noteworthy events
* 8.1 Brett Kavanaugh confirmation vote
* 9 Campaign themes
* 9.1 Mike Espy
* 9.2 Cindy Hyde-Smith
* 10 Social media
* 10.1 Twitter accounts
* 10.2 Facebook accounts
* 11 Special elections to the 115th U.S. Congress
* 12 Pivot Counties
* 13 Election history
* 13.1 2014
* 13.2 2012
* 14 State overview
* 14.1 Partisan control
* 14.1.1 Congressional delegation
* 14.1.2 State executives
* 14.1.3 State legislature
* 14.1.4 Trifecta status
* 14.2 2018 elections
* 14.3 Demographics
* 15 State election history
* 15.1 Historical elections
* 15.1.1 Presidential elections, 2000-2016
* 15.1.2 U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016
* 15.1.3 Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016
* 15.1.4 Congressional delegation, 2000-2016
* 15.1.5 Trifectas, 1992-2017
* 16 See also
* 17 Footnotes

## Candidates and election results[edit]

General runoff election

##### Special general runoff election for U.S. Senate Mississippi

Incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith defeated Mike Espy in the special general runoff election for U.S. Senate Mississippi on November 27, 2018.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)  |

53.6

| 486,769

| Mike Espy (D)  |

46.4

| 420,819

* * *

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 907,588
(100.00% precincts reporting)

|
|

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

General election

##### Special general election for U.S. Senate Mississippi

Incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith and Mike Espy advanced to a runoff. They defeated Chris McDaniel and Tobey Bartee in the special general election for U.S. Senate Mississippi on November 6, 2018.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)  |

41.2

| 389,995
✔ |

| Mike Espy (D)  |

40.9

| 386,742

| Chris McDaniel (R)  |

16.4

| 154,878

| Tobey Bartee (Nonpartisan)  |

1.5

| 13,852

* * *

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 945,467
(100.00% precincts reporting)

|
|

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

#### Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

* Jason Shelton (D)

## Candidate profiles[edit]

See also: Editorial approach to writing about key campaign messages

Mike Espy, attorney and former U.S. secretary of agriculture

Party: Democratic

Incumbent: No

Political office: U.S. Secretary of Agriculture (1993-1994); U.S. Congress, Mississippi's 2nd (1987-1993)

Biography: Espy earned his B.A. from Howard University and J.D. from Santa Clara University Law School. He worked as assistant secretary of state and assistant state attorney general before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. After serving in Congress and in the Clinton administration, Espy worked in private practice as an attorney.[1]

Key messages

* Espy said that although he was a Democrat, he was also an independent thinker committed to improving Mississippi. He pointed to his reduction of the USDA staff by 7,500 employees through incentive packages as an example of a conservative action he took.[2]

* Espy said he had more experience than his opponents at the federal level and that he could offer mature leadership.[2][3]

Cindy Hyde-Smith, U.S. senator

Party: Republican

Incumbent: Yes

Political office: U.S. Senate, Mississippi (assumed office: 2018); Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce (2012-2018); Mississippi State Senate (2000-2012)

Biography: Hyde-Smith earned her B.A. from the University of Southern Mississippi. She worked as a cattle farmer and partner of the Lincoln County Livestock, the local stockyard auction market. She served in the state legislature and state government before being appointed to the U.S. Senate by Gov. Phil Bryant (R).[4][5]

Key messages

* Hyde-Smith presented herself as a lifelong conservative and emphasized her endorsement from President Donald Trump (R).[6][7]

* Hyde-Smith listed the following positions prominently her campaign website: defending life and protecting the unborn, stopping illegal immigration, and supporting our 2nd amendment rights.[8]

## Polls[edit]

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

U.S. Senate special election in Mississippi, 2018

Poll | Poll sponsor |  Hyde-Smith |  Espy| Undecided| Margin of error| Sample size
Bold Blue Campaigns and JMC Analytics & Polling
November 19-24, 2018| RRH Elections | 54%| 44%| 1%| +/-4.0| 684
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Click [show] to see older poll results|

|

|  | U.S. Senate special election in Mississippi, 2018

Poll | Espy (D) | Hyde-Smith (R)| McDaniel (R)| Other/Undecided| Margin of Error| Sample Size
Chism Strategies
March 2018 | 34%| 27%| 21%| 18%| +/-N/A| 603
Note: A "0%" finding means the candidate was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org
U.S. Senate special election in Mississippi, 2018

Poll | Hyde-Smith (R) | Espy (D)| McDaniel (R)| Shelton (D)| Undecided/Other| Margin of Error| Sample Size
GS Strategy Group
May 1-3, 2018 | 30%| 22%| 17%| 4%| 27%| +/-4.0| 625
Y'all Politics
April 10-11, 2018 | 33%| 33%| 13%| 6%| 15%| +/-3.0| 1,000
Note: A "0%" finding means the candidate was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org
U.S. Senate special election in Mississippi, 2018, Runoff: Espy (D) vs. Hyde-Smith (R)

Poll | Espy (D) | Hyde-Smith (R)| Other/Undecided| Margin of Error| Sample Size
Y'all Politics
July 30-31, 2018 | 34%| 49%| 18%| +/-3.5| 2,100
Mason-Dixon Polling
April 12-14, 2018 | 34%| 46%| 20%| +/-4.0| 625
Y'all Politics
April 10-11, 2018 | 36%| 42%| 22%| +/-3.0| 1,000
Note: A "0%" finding means the candidate was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org
U.S. Senate special election in Mississippi, 2018, Runoff: Espy (D) vs. McDaniel (R)

Poll | Espy (D) | McDaniel (R)| Other/Undecided| Margin of Error| Sample Size
Y'all Politics
July 30-31, 2018 | 41%| 26%| 33%| +/-3.5| 2,100
Mason-Dixon Polling
April 12-14, 2018 | 42%| 40%| 18%| +/-4.0| 625
Y'all Politics
April 10-11, 2018 | 43%| 24%| 33%| +/-3.0| 1,000
Note: A "0%" finding means the candidate was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org

## Campaign finance[edit]

The chart below contains data from financial reports submitted to the Federal Election Commission.

Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date

|
|
|
|
|

Mike Espy | Democratic Party | $7,488,522 | $7,194,351 | $294,171 |  As of December 31, 2018
Cindy Hyde-Smith | Republican Party | $5,545,933 | $5,492,019 | $53,914 |  As of December 31, 2018
Chris McDaniel | Republican Party | $668,706 | $660,839 | $7,866 |  As of December 31, 2018

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," .

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.

## Satellite spending[edit]

Satellite spending, commonly referred to as outside spending, describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[9][10][11]

This section lists satellite spending in this race reported by news outlets in alphabetical order. If you are aware of spending that should be included, please email us.

* America First Action spent $280,000 on TV, radio, and digital ads and mailers to back Hyde-Smith in November 2018.[12]

* The pro-Republican Mississippi Victory Fund spent $600,000 on Hyde-Smith in November 2018.[13]

* The National Association of Realtors spent $352,000 on an ad supporting Hyde-Smith in September 2018.[14]

* The National Republican Senatorial Committee said it planned to spend at least $1 million on Hyde-Smith's campaign in November 2018.[13]

* The Senate Majority PAC spent $407,000 on an ad campaign for Espy in November 2018[13]

* The U.S. Chamber of Commerce spent $750,000 on advertising to support Hyde-Smith in April 2018.[15]

## Race ratings[edit]

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from three outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, and Sabato's Crystal Ball. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

* Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
* Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
* Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[16]
* Tossup ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[17][18][19]

Race ratings: United States Senate special election in Mississippi, 2018

Race tracker| Race ratings
| October 30, 2018| October 23, 2018| October 16, 2018| October 9, 2018
The Cook Political Report| Lean Republican| Lean Republican| Lean Republican| Likely Republican
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales| Solid Republican| Solid Republican| Solid Republican| Solid Republican
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball| Likely Republican| Likely Republican| Likely Republican| Likely Republican
Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every two weeks throughout the election season.

## Campaign ads[edit]

###  Mike Espy[edit]

#### Support[edit]

"Two Years" - Espy campaign ad, released November 15, 2018

"Lincoln" - Espy campaign ad, released October 31, 2018

"Dead Last" - Espy campaign ad, released October 23, 2018

"Image" - Espy campaign ad, released October 23, 2018

#### Oppose[edit]

"Agenda" - Hyde-Smith ad, released November 20, 2018

"Favors" - Senate Leadership Fund campaign ad, released November 16, 2018

"Mike Espy - Too liberal for Mississippi" - Hyde-Smith campaign ad, released November 16, 2018

"Drain It" - NRSC campaign ad, released November 15, 2018

###  Cindy Hyde-Smith[edit]

#### Support[edit]

"Runoff" - Hyde-Smith ad, released November 13, 2018

"Ready for the Runoff" - Hyde-Smith ad, released November 7, 2018

"President Trump" - Hyde-Smith ad, released October 9, 2018

"Endorsement" - Hyde-Smith ad, released August 28, 2018

"Integrity" - Hyde-Smith ad, released August 23, 2018

"Conservative" - Hyde-Smith ad, released August 22, 2018

"Solution" - Hyde-Smith ad, released July 11, 2018

"Brett Favre Supports Cindy Hyde-Smith for Mississippi Senate" - U.S. Chamber Action ad, released June 25, 2018

"Effective Conservative" - U.S. Chamber Action ad, released April 12, 2018

#### Oppose[edit]

"Values" - Espy ad, released November 23, 2018

"No Joke" - Espy ad, released November 19, 2018

"Heads" - Senate Majority PAC ad, released November 14, 2018

## Noteworthy events[edit]

### Brett Kavanaugh confirmation vote[edit]

See also: Supreme Court vacancy, 2018: An overview

On October 6, 2018, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. Fifty senators voted to confirm Kavanaugh's nomination, 48 voted against, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted present. A simple majority was required to confirm Kavanaugh.[20]

Hyde-Smith voted for Kavanaugh's confirmation. She said in a statement, "Brett Kavanaugh earned my vote with his impeccable qualifications and his steadfastness throughout a confirmation process tainted by sordid accusations and crass partisan treachery. Judge Kavanaugh never wavered from his vow not to buckle under political or public pressure, which is a characteristic we need in a Supreme Court justice. I believe Judge Kavanaugh will be a justice whose adherence to the Constitution and the rule of law will be a credit to the Court and all Americans."[21]

Espy said he would have voted against Kavanaugh's confirmation. "I believe Brett Kavanaugh lacks the judicial temperament to be on our nation’s highest Court. His testimony showed he’s quick to anger and holds deeply rooted partisan beliefs. All of us—Republicans, Democrats, Independents—should be concerned about that," Espy said in a statement.[22]

## Campaign themes[edit]

These were the policy positions listed on the candidates' websites, if available.

####  Mike Espy[edit]

“  |

Mississippi for All

Mississippi needs to be a Land of Opportunity for ALL of its citizens.

Mike is totally committed to ALL Mississippians having access to their rights of citizenship, due process, full equality, and specifically civil rights, regardless of age, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. Mike believes that ALL Mississippians should have the support of their government to protect against any efforts that prevent our citizens from pursuing their life’s ambitions.

Mike Espy promises to be an independent senator for ALL of Mississippi, putting people over party. He will work with anyone – whether they are against him or for him – if it will benefit Mississippi and its citizens.

Jobs and Economy

Mike Espy is committed to the joint goal of creating well-paying, quality jobs and to an economy that works for ALL Mississippians.

World-class manufacturers who have invested in Mississippi know the value of our workforce. To attract additional outside investments and to build a home-grown entrepreneurial economy, we need to strengthen our workforce training.

Mississippi needs to have a modern, reliable infrastructure that will allow for Mississippi companies to have reliable transportation and technology that is competitive, such as statewide broadband.

And in order for Mississippi’s workers to support their families, Mike Espy is strongly for an increase in the supply of child care services, paid family leave, an increased minimum wage, and an expanded Earned Income Tax Credit.

Agriculture and Our Rural Areas

Mike Espy grew up in a small, rural, Mississippi town, and he highly values the rural way of life. In addition, as a Member of Congress representing a rural district and as the nation’s Secretary of Agriculture, he has used his knowledge and experience to improve our agricultural economy.

In Mississippi, agriculture is the largest part of our economy. In addition to row crops, Mississippi has strong production in poultry/eggs, pork, cattle, catfish, and forestry.

Because so much of Mississippi’s agricultural produce is exported, Mike Espy sees punitive tariffs as being harmful to our farmers, to our state’s economy, and to future trade. (It also is potentially harmful to our state’s growing automobile industry.)

Our Constitution specifically gives responsibility for tariffs to the Congress. Mike Espy believes that that the current, unchecked misuse of tariff policy needs to return to how the Founding Fathers intended.

Washington Accountability

Mississippi’s citizens face enough challenges without having the deck stacked against them.

Mississippi needs a government that will put people over politics and fairness over self-interest, Citizen’s tax dollars should be spent on needed services and programs, not on personal trips or fancy furniture. Laws against waste, fraud, and corruption are to protect the American citizenry and should be dutifully applied and enforced.

Washington’s incredible wastefulness of tax dollars is abhorrent to any sense of fairness or rational thinking. In addition, by using their Washington influence, Wall Street seems immune from any restraint or accountability for its actions, even when they unfairly treat millions of hard-working citizens.

Tax cuts were given to corporations to drive the economy with increased jobs and salaries, and yet Mississippi has seen virtually none of these intended benefits. These tax cuts improved corporations’ bottom line, but there has not been the trickle down that was promised.

Education

Mike Espy believes that all of Mississippi’s children deserve access to a quality education that will allow them to reach their full potential. Education is the surest path to individual success and the collective success of our state and country.

Mike Espy will work to implement specific actions that are needed by Mississippians and their communities to improve our current education offerings. Senators from rural states can work together to increase the number of quality teachers, such as loan forgiveness which has been successful in attracting doctors to rural areas.

Increased professional development is essential to improving the quality of our teacher workforce. And if education is the key to Mississippi’s success, college and post-secondary education should be made more affordable by increasing interest subsidies on student loans and by stopping predatory for-profit schools from exploiting our adult learners.

Health Care

Mike Espy and the people of Mississippi agree that our current healthcare system needs to be repaired and improved. He believes that Mississippians need access to affordable health care and that fixing health care for the American people will require a bipartisan solution. He wants to lower the cost of prescription drugs and rein in out-of-control insurance premiums, high deductibles, and caps on individual health costs.

Mike Espy will protect and defend the parts of our health system that currently are under attack, such as for people with pre-existing conditions. He believes strongly in increasing access for Mississippians to treatment programs to fight the current epidemic of opioid and substance abuse. He believes that Mississippians should have full access to the services and programs that are available to many other Americans through expanded funding of Medicaid and CHIP.

Espy will fight for women’s rights so that women’s reproductive health is free from gender discrimination, targeting especially the availability of sufficient health insurance coverage and medical services. Women should have the basic right to make their own decisions about their personal health.

Expanded health services can be an economic engine to provide a “double benefit” for Mississippians both by improving our health and by providing needed jobs to be paid by already- existing insurance and government-funded streams.

Immigration

Mike Espy believes in a secure border and enforced immigration laws that are fairly applied to all. He does not support building “The Wall” because the cost is not justified compared to other more cost-effective methods of immigration control.

Mike believes that the separation of children from their parents is abhorrent to our sense of American decency. The contorted administrative justification of this action should not be tolerated if we are to have a country where laws are applied equally and fairly for all.

Veterans and Seniors

Mike Espy will protect and improve the services for those who have served us so faithfully, our veterans and our seniors. Our veterans and our seniors are entitled to health services, income subsidy, and need-based support at a time in their lives when they need us to repay our debt to them. They often suffer from the lack availability of services, long wait-times, poor quality of those services, and the mismanagement of the bureaucracy that is supposed to serve them.

Mississippi has over 190,000 veterans, 80,000 of whom are over the age of 65. In addition, there are another 382,000 Mississippians over the age of 65 who do not have access to veterans’ services. BOTH deserve our grateful support.

Mike Espy will fight the current efforts in Washington to cut back on the benefits and programs to which our veterans and seniors are currently entitled, and he will work across the aisle to increase their availability and effectiveness. He will hold accountable the VA hospitals and services in Mississippi to be responsive to and effective caregivers of our treasured veterans.

National Security and the Military

Mississippi is proud to do more than its part to support our nation’s defense.

Mississippi is the home of installations of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force. In addition, NASA’s Stennis Space Center and Ingalls Shipbuilding are key to building the safety of our country for years to come. Active duty soldiers in all five of the military branches (including the Marines and Coast Guard) live in Mississippi, and our state has one of the largest Army Reserves in the country.

Mike Espy will fight for Mississippi to maintain these military assets that are essential for our state’s economy and for the future of our nation’s armed forces.[23]

|  ”

|
|

—Espy for Senate[24]

###  Cindy Hyde-Smith[edit]

“  |

SUPPORTING OUR 2ND AMENDMENT RIGHTS

As the owner of an enhanced-carry permit, Cindy lives the right to keep and bear arms in her everyday life. She and her family own firearms, enjoy hunting, and cherish the great outdoors. She will always stand up for our 2nd Amendment Constitutional rights.

BALANCING THE BUDGET

In 1995, Congress failed to pass a balanced budget requirement by just one vote—the national debt was $4.9 trillion. Today the debt is more than $21 trillion, and it’s time to get serious. Growing up in rural Mississippi, Cindy was taught you don’t spend money you don’t have. As your U.S. Senator, nobody will work harder to pass a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Mississippi families and small businesses must balance their budgets each month. It’s time for Washington to be held to the same standard!

DEFENDING LIFE AND PROTECTING THE UNBORN

Cindy believes all children, including the unborn, are guaranteed the right to life by our Creator. She respects the sanctity of life and opposes taxpayer funding of abortions. As Senator, Cindy will fight for and vote to confirm pro-life judges who will interpret the law as written, and not legislate from the bench.

STOPPING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

Cindy believes America has the right to secure its borders and control who enters our country. She believes illegal immigration must come to an end and supports President Trump’s plans to build a wall on America’s southwestern border and to increase funding to enforce U.S. immigration laws. Immigrants who wish to live and work here must enter our great country the same way others have in previous generations—by following the law.

SUPPORTING THE MILITARY AND VETERANS

Cindy has an abiding respect and appreciation for America’s military, their families and our veterans. She will support policies that help strengthen our military to support our men and women in the Armed Forces so they have the best training and tools available to keep America safe. She also understands the sacrifices made by those who have fought to defend our nation. As such, she will work to ensure veterans and their families receive the benefits promised to them by a grateful nation. Recently, Cindy voted for the largest military pay increase in nearly a decade.

AGRICULTURE

As a cattle farmer, former Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee in the Mississippi legislature, and two-term Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, Cindy knows the agriculture industry inside and out. As Agriculture Commissioner, she worked to open new markets for Mississippi’s diverse agricultural products. Agriculture is the number one economic sector in Mississippi, and nobody will be a stronger or more knowledgeable advocate in the U.S. Senate for the interests of Mississippi’s farmers and ranchers than Cindy.

EDUCATION

Education and workforce training are issues Cindy cares about deeply. She believes the federal government should support states’ efforts to improve educational opportunities for their citizens, but it should not dictate how they get the job done. Mississippi does not need Washington telling it how to raise and educate its children, so she will support policies that help states, local communities, teachers and parents make decisions to improve education for our children.

MORE JOBS

As a conservative, Cindy knows government does not create jobs—people and businesses in the private sector are the drivers of our economy. She is a strong supporter of free markets and private property rights. Her background as a cattle farmer gives her unique insight into the struggles of hardworking men and women. Cindy knows what it’s like dealing with overburdensome regulation by Washington, D.C. To keep our economy growing, Cindy will work with her colleagues and President Trump to roll back unnecessary rules and regulations that hinder job creation and stymie economic growth.

LOWER TAXES

Throughout her career, Cindy has always supported lower taxes. She believes the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed by the Republican Congress and signed into law by President Trump is helping unleash a wave of prosperity across America. Cindy will always fight to make sure families and businesses keep more of their hard-earned money.

CONSTITUTIONAL JUDGES

One of the most important responsibilities of a United States Senator is the confirmation of judges. The men and women receive lifetime appointments, and their impact on the rule of law is enormous. In addition to Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, President Trump has chosen quality nominees for lower federal courts as well. Cindy will be a consistent vote in support of these Constitutional conservative judges.

ISRAEL

Cindy stands with Israel, a strong ally that shares our democratic values. She recognizes Israel as an oasis of freedom, tolerance, and economic prosperity in an unstable region of the world. Cindy supports President Trump’s decision to locate the American embassy in Jerusalem and will work to strengthen U.S.-Israeli national security, economic and cultural interests.[23]

|  ”

|
|

—Hyde-Smith for Senate[25]

## Social media[edit]

### Twitter accounts[edit]

Tweets by espyforsenate Tweets by cindyhydesmith

### Facebook accounts[edit]

Click the icons below to visit the candidates' Facebook pages.

Mike Espy

Cindy Hyde-Smith

## Special elections to the 115th U.S. Congress[edit]

See also: Special elections to the 115th United States Congress (2017-2018)

In the 17 special elections called to fill vacancies in the 115th Congress in 2017 and 2018, nine Republicans and eight Democrats won. Four elections resulted in a partisan flip:

* Doug Jones (D), U.S. Senate in Alabama;
* Conor Lamb (D), Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District;
* Mary Gay Scanlon (D), Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District; and
* Susan Wild (D), Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District.

Results of special elections to the 115th Congress

Race  |  Election date  |  Incumbent  |  Winner  |  Election MOV  |  Previous election MOV  |  2016 Presidential election MOV[26]
Kansas' 4th Congressional District |  April 11, 2017  |  Mike Pompeo |  Ron Estes |  R+6  |  R+31  |  R+27
Montana's At-Large Congressional District |  May 25, 2017  |  Ryan Zinke |  Greg Gianforte |  R+6  |  R+15  |  R+21
California's 34th Congressional District |  June 6, 2017  |  Xavier Becerra |  Jimmy Gomez |  D+18[27] |  D+54[27] |  D+73
Georgia's 6th Congressional District |  June 20, 2017  |  Tom Price |  Karen Handel |  R+4  |  R+24  |  R+1
South Carolina's 5th Congressional District |  June 20, 2017  |  Mick Mulvaney |  Ralph Norman |  R+3  |  R+20  |  R+18
Utah's 3rd Congressional District |  November 7, 2017  |  Jason Chaffetz |  John Curtis |  R+32  |  R+47  |  R+24
U.S. Senate in Alabama |  December 12, 2017  |  Jeff Sessions |  Doug Jones |  D+2  |  R+28  |  R+28
Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District |  March 13, 2018  |  Tim Murphy |  Conor Lamb |  D+0[28] |  R+100  |  R+19
Arizona's 8th Congressional District |  April 24, 2018  |  Trent Franks |  Debbie Lesko |  R+6  |  R+38  |  R+21
Texas' 27th Congressional District |  June 30, 2018  |  Blake Farenthold |  Michael Cloud |  R+23  |  R+24  |  R+23
Ohio's 12th Congressional District |  August 7, 2018  |  Patrick Tiberi |  Troy Balderson |  R+1  |  R+40  |  R+11
Michigan's 13th Congressional District |  November 6, 2018  |  John Conyers Jr. |  Brenda Jones | D+78  |  D+61  |  D+61
U.S. Senate in Minnesota |  November 6, 2018  |  Al Franken |  Tina Smith |  D+11  |  D+10  |  D+2
U.S. Senate in Mississippi |  November 6, 2018  |  Thad Cochran |  Cindy Hyde-Smith |  R+8  |  R+22  |  R+18
New York's 25th Congressional District |  November 6, 2018  |  Louise Slaughter |  Joseph Morelle |  D+16  |  D+12  |  D+16
Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District |  November 6, 2018  |  Patrick Meehan |  Mary Gay Scanlon |  D+6  |  R+19  |  D+2
Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District |  November 6, 2018  |  Charlie Dent |  Susan Wild |  D+0  |  R+20  |  R+8

## Pivot Counties[edit]

See also: Pivot Counties by state

Two of 82 Mississippi counties—2.4 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008

County  |  Trump margin of victory in 2016  |  Obama margin of victory in 2012  |  Obama margin of victory in 2008
Chickasaw County, Mississippi | 6.06% | 4.52% | 2.13%
Panola County, Mississippi | 0.12% | 8.62% | 6.52%

## Election history[edit]

### 2014[edit]

U.S. Senate, Mississippi General Election, 2014

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Republican  | Thad Cochran Incumbent | 59.9% | 378,481
| Democratic  |  Travis Childers  | 37.9% | 239,439
| Reform  |  Shawn O'Hara  | 2.2% | 13,938
Total Votes | 631,858
Source: Mississippi Secretary of State Official Results

### 2012[edit]

U.S. Senate, Mississippi General Election, 2012

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Republican  | Roger Wicker | 57.2% | 709,626
| Democratic  |  Albert N. Gore, Jr.  | 40.6% | 503,467
| Constitution  |  Thomas Cramer  | 1.2% | 15,281
| Reform  |  Shawn O'Hara  | 1.1% | 13,194
Total Votes | 1,241,568
Source: Mississippi Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

## State overview[edit]

### Partisan control[edit]

This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in Mississippi heading into the 2018 elections.

#### Congressional delegation[edit]

* Following the 2016 elections, Republicans held both U.S. Senate seats in Mississippi.
* Republicans held three of four U.S. House seats in Mississippi.

#### State executives[edit]

* As of September 2018, Republicans held eight of 11 state executive positions, with the remaining three held by Democrats.
* The governor of Mississippi was Republican Phil Bryant. Bryant won election in 2011 and was re-elected in 2015.

#### State legislature[edit]

* Republicans controlled both chambers of the Mississippi State Legislature. They had a 74-46 majority in the state House and a 33-19 majority in the state Senate.

#### Trifecta status[edit]

* Mississippi was a Republican trifecta, meaning that the Republican Party held the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature.

### 2018 elections[edit]

See also: Mississippi elections, 2018

Mississippi held elections for the following positions in 2018:

* Both U.S. Senate seats (one regularly-scheduled and one special election)
* All four U.S. House seats
* One of nine state Supreme Court seats
* Five of 10 state Court of Appeals seats

### Demographics[edit]

Demographic data for Mississippi

| Mississippi| U.S.
Total population:| 2,989,390| 316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):| 46,923| 3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:| 59.2%| 73.6%
Black/African American:| 37.4%| 12.6%
Asian:| 1%| 5.1%
Native American:| 0.4%| 0.8%
Pacific Islander:| 0%| 0.2%
Two or more:| 1.2%| 3%
Hispanic/Latino:| 2.9%| 17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:| 82.3%| 86.7%
College graduation rate:| 20.7%| 29.8%
Income
Median household income:| $39,665| $53,889
Persons below poverty level:| 27%| 11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Mississippi.

* * *

**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

As of July 2016, Mississippi's three largest cities were Jackson (pop. est. 170,000), Gulfport (pop. est. 72,000), and Southaven (pop. est. 54,000).[29]

## State election history[edit]

This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in Mississippi from 2000 to 2016. Data comes from the Mississippi Secretary of State.

### Historical elections[edit]

#### Presidential elections, 2000-2016[edit]

This chart shows the results of the presidential election in Mississippi every year from 2000 to 2016.

Election results (President of the United States), Mississippi 2000-2016

Year  |  First-place candidate  |  First-place candidate votes (%)  |  Second-place candidate  |  Second-place candidate votes (%)  |  Margin of victory (%)
2016  |  Donald Trump |  57.9%  |  Hillary Clinton |  40.1%  | 17.8%
2012  |  Mitt Romney |  55.3%  |  Barack Obama |  43.8%  | 11.5%
2008  |  John McCain |  56.2%  |  Barack Obama |  43.0%  | 13.2%
2004  |  George W. Bush |  59.5%  |  John Kerry |  39.8%  | 19.7%
2000  |  George W. Bush |  57.6%  |  Al Gore |  40.7%  | 16.9%

#### U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016[edit]

This chart shows the results of U.S. Senate races in Mississippi from 2000 to 2016. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the two seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.

Election results (U.S. Senator), Mississippi 2000-2016

Year  |  First-place candidate  |  First-place candidate votes (%)  |  Second-place candidate  |  Second-place candidate votes (%)  |  Margin of victory (%)
2014  |  Thad Cochran |  59.9%  |  Travis Childers |  37.9%  | 22.0%
2012  |  Roger Wicker |  57.2%  |  Albert Gore |  40.6%  | 16.6%
2008  |  Thad Cochran |  61.4%  |  Erik Fleming |  38.6%  | 22.8%
2008 (special) |  Roger Wicker |  55.0%  |  Ronnie Musgrove |  45.0%  | 10.0%
2006  |  Trent Lott |  63.6%  |  Erik Fleming |  34.9%  | 28.7%
2002  |  Thad Cochran |  84.6%  |  Shawn O'Hara |  15.4%  | 69.2%
2000  |  Trent Lott |  65.9%  |  Troy Brown |  31.6%  | 34.3%

#### Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016[edit]

This chart shows the results of the gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in Mississippi.

Election results (Governor), Mississippi 2000-2016

Year  |  First-place candidate  |  First-place candidate votes (%)  |  Second-place candidate  |  Second-place candidate votes (%)  |  Margin of victory (%)
2015  |  Phil Bryant |  66.6%  |  Robert Gray |  32.1%  | 34.5%
2011  |  Phil Bryant |  61.0%  |  Johnny DuPree |  39.0%  | 22.0%
2007  |  Haley Barbour |  57.9%  |  John Eaves |  42.1%  | 15.8%
2003  |  Haley Barbour |  52.6%  |  Ronnie Musgrove |  45.8%  | 6.8%

#### Congressional delegation, 2000-2016[edit]

This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent Mississippi in the U.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.

Congressional delegation, Mississippi 2000-2016

Year  |  Republicans  |  Republicans (%)  |  Democrats  |  Democrats (%)  |  Balance of power
2016  |  4 |  75.0%  |  1 |  25.0%  | R+2
2014  |  4 |  75.0%  |  1 |  25.0%  | R+2
2012  |  4 |  75.0%  |  1 |  25.0%  | R+2
2010  |  4 |  75.0%  |  1 |  25.0%  | R+2
2008  |  1 |  25.0%  |  3 |  75.0%  | D+2
2006  |  2 |  50.0%  |  2 |  50.0%  |  Even
2004  |  2 |  50.0%  |  2 |  50.0%  |  Even
2002  |  2 |  50.0%  |  2 |  50.0%  |  Even
2008  |  2 |  40.0%  |  3 |  60.0%  | D+1

#### Trifectas, 1992-2017[edit]

A state government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.

Mississippi Party Control: 1992-2021
Four years of Democratic trifectas • Ten years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year  |  92  |  93  |  94  |  95  |  96  |  97  |  98  |  99  |  00  |  01  |  02  |  03  |  04  |  05  |  06  |  07  |  08  |  09  |  10  |  11  |  12  |  13  |  14  |  15  |  16  |  17  |  18  |  19  |  20  |  21

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Governor |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R |  D |  D |  D |  D |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R
Senate |  D |  D |  D |  D |  D |  D |  D |  D |  D |  D |  D |  D |  D |  D |  D |  R |  D |  D |  D |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R
House |  D |  D |  D |  D |  D |  D |  D |  D |  D |  D |  D |  D |  D |  D |  D |  D |  D |  D |  D |  D |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R |  R

## See also[edit]

* United States Senate elections, 2018
* United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi, 2018

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ History, Art, & Archives, "Alphonso Michael Espy," accessed September 29, 2018
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Jackson Free Press, "‘It Only Matters What You Answer To’: The JFP Interview with Mike Espy," September 19, 2018
3. ↑ Espy for Senate, "About," accessed September 29, 2018
4. ↑ Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress, "Cindy Hyde-Smith," accessed September 29, 2018
5. ↑ Cindy Hyde-Smith, "About," accessed September 29, 2018
6. ↑ YouTube, "Hyde-Smith – Endorsement," August 28, 2018
7. ↑ YouTube, "Hyde-Smith – Conservative," August 22, 2018
8. ↑ Cindy Hyde-Smith, "Home," accessed December 6, 2018
9. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed September 22, 2015
10. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed September 22, 2015
11. ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," November 6, 2015
12. ↑ Politico, "POLITICO Playbook: Details about the ‘Never Pelosi’ letter," November 19, 2018
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections Live Digest: 11/14," November 14, 2018
14. ↑ Daily Kos, "Morning Digest: Daily Kos Elections upgrades Texas Senate race from Likely to Lean Republican," September 25, 2018
15. ↑ Y'All Politics, "YP Daily Roundup 4/18/18," April 18, 2018
16. ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
17. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
18. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
19. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
20. ↑ New York Times, "Kavanaugh Is Sworn In After Close Confirmation Vote in Senate Video," October 6, 2018
21. ↑ Cindy Hyde-Smith, "HYDE-SMITH VOTES TO CONFIRM KAVANAUGH," October 6, 2018
22. ↑ WMBC Action News 5, "Senate candidate Phil Bredesen says he’d vote ‘yes’ on Kavanaugh," October 5, 2018
23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
24. ↑ Espy for Senate, "Issues," accessed September 26, 2018
25. ↑ Hyde-Smith for Senate, "Issues," accessed July 12, 2018
26. ↑ Daily Kos, "2008, 2012, & 2016 Presidential Election Results by District," accessed July 11, 2018
27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Both general election candidates were Democrats.
28. ↑ Lamb won by a margin of 0.4 percentage points.
29. ↑ Mississippi Demographics by Cubit, "Mississippi Cities by Population," accessed September 10, 2018

[show]

Mississippi's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)

Roger Wicker (R)

Representatives

District 1

Trent Kelly (R)

District 2

Bennie Thompson (D)

District 3

Michael Guest (R)

District 4

Steven Palazzo (R)

Republican Party (5)

Democratic Party (1)