2008 United States Senate election in Mississippi

This is an article about the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Trent Lott. For the article regarding the Senate seat currently held by Thad Cochran, see United States Senate election in Mississippi, 2008.

On November 26, 2007, longtime Mississippi Senator Trent Lott announced his intention to resign from his Senate seat by the end of 2007 in order to pursue "something else" in the private sector.

Mississippi's governor, Haley Barbour, indicated he would appoint an interim senator pending a special election November 4, 2008. The winner would be eligible to serve for the balance of Lott's term, which ends January 2013.

Controversy

Mississippi law states:

Section 23-15-855. Elections to fill vacancies in office of U.S. Senator; interim appointments by Governor.

(1) If a vacancy shall occur in the office of United States Senator from Mississippi by death, resignation or otherwise, the Governor shall, within ten (10) days after receiving official notice of such vacancy, issue his proclamation for an election to be held in the state to elect a Senator to fill such unexpired term as may remain, provided the unexpired term is more than twelve (12) months and the election shall be held within ninety (90) days from the time the proclamation is issued and the returns of such election shall be certified to the Governor in the manner set out above for regular elections, unless the vacancy shall occur in a year that there shall be held a general state or congressional election, in which event the Governor's proclamation shall designate the general election day as the time for electing a Senator, and the vacancy shall be filled by appointment as hereinafter provided.

(2) In case of a vacancy in the office of United States Senator, the Governor may appoint a Senator to fill such vacancy temporarily, and if the United States Senate be in session at the time the vacancy occurs the Governor shall appoint a Senator within ten (10) days after receiving official notice thereof, and the Senator so appointed shall serve until his successor is elected and commissioned as provided for in subsection (1) of this section, provided that such unexpired term as he may be appointed to fill shall be for a longer time than one (1) year, but if for a shorter time than one (1) year he shall serve for the full time of the unexpired term and no special election shall be called by the Governor but his successor shall be elected at the regular election.

On November 26, 2007, the Mississippi Democratic Party issued the following news release:

JACKSON –- Wayne Dowdy, chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party, issued the following statement after U.S. Sen. Trent Lott announced plans to resign from office by the end of the year.

“According to multiple news reports, Senator Lott intends to resign his seat by the end of the year. Section 23-15-855 (1) of the Mississippi Code makes clear that if Senator Lott does indeed resign during this calendar year, as stated, then Governor Barbour must call a special election for within 90 days of making a proclamation –- which he must issue within 10 days of the resignation -– and not on Nov. 4, 2008, as he has announced he intends to do.

“We will wait for Senator Lott’s official notice of resignation, when he will undoubtedly announce the exact date he will leave office. But if he does resign this calendar year we expect the governor to uphold the law and call a special election within 100 days. It is important that Mississippi be represented in Washington by a senator who was elected by the state’s voters as soon as possible.”

Potential candidates

Source: Jackson Clarion-Ledger

Potential Democrats

• Ray Mabus, former governor of Mississippi
• Mike Moore, former attorney general of Mississippi
• Ronnie Musgrove, former governor of Mississippi
• Rep. Gene Taylor

Potential Republicans

• Rep. Chip Pickering, a former Lott aide who recently announced his retirement from the House
• Rep. Roger Wicker