United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi, 2008

The 2008 congressional elections in Mississippi will be 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.

Mississippi has four seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 111th Congress from January 4, 2009 until January 3, 2011. The election coincides 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 consists of three Democrats and one Republican.

The only race not forecasted as safe for the incumbent party is District 1.

District Breakdown

District 1

This district covers the northeastern part of the state, including the cities of Columbus, Grenada, Oxford, Southaven, and Tupelo. Democrat Travis Childers is the Representative to the district, having defeated Republican Greg Davis in an April 22 special election. Childers and Davis are set to face each other again in November [http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080513/NEWS/80513035&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL Clarion Ledger: Childers wins 1st District for Democrats] ] along with Green Party candidate John Wages, Jr., a college professor and farmer; and independent candidate Wally Pang, a restaurant owner. [http://www.uselections.com/ms/ms.htm uselections.com: Mississippi Elections & Elected Officials] ] CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Leans Democratic'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-MS-01 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=MS01&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 2

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 has 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 is challenged on the Republican side by teacher Richard Cook.CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-MS-02 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=MS02&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 3

Republican Chip Pickering is retiring from Congress after what will be 12 years of service. The candidates are 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.CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Republican'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-MS-03 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=MS03&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 4

Democrat Gene Taylor, has representated the district since 1989. He is challenged on the Republican side by Methodist minister and Air National Guard officer John McCay III.CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-MS-04 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=MS04&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

References

External links

* [http://www.sos.state.ms.us/elections/elections.asp Elections Division] from the "Mississippi Secretary of State"
* [http://www.votesmart.org/election_congress_state.php?state_id=MS&go33.x=12&go33.y=12 U.S. Congress candidates for Mississippi] at Project Vote Smart
* [http://www.2008racetracker.com/page/Mississippi Mississippi U.S. House Races] from "2008 Race Tracker"
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/election.php?state=MS Campaign contributions for Mississippi congressional races] from OpenSecrets.org