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.
With the results of the 1st congressional district special election included, the Mississippi congressional delegation comprised three Democrats and one Republican. As of 2022, this is the last time in which Democrats won a majority of congressional districts from Mississippi.
Overview
2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi
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
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
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
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
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