Misplaced Pages

2015 Mississippi gubernatorial election

← 2011 November 3, 2015 2019 →

Nominee Phil Bryant Robert Gray Party Republican Democratic Electoral vote 85 37 Popular vote 480,399 234,858 Percentage 66.24% 32.38%

County results Congressional district resultsBryant:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Gray:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election Phil Bryant Republican Elected Governor Phil Bryant Republican

Elections in Mississippi
Federal government U.S. President 1820 1824 1828 1832 1836 1840 1844 1848 1852 1856 1860 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 Dem 2004 2008 Dem Rep 2012 Dem Rep 2016 Dem Rep 2020 Dem Rep 2024 Dem Rep U.S. Senate 1817 1820 1820 sp 1823 1823 1826 sp 1828 1830 sp 1833 sp 1835 1838 1839 sp 1841 1844 1846 sp 1848 sp 1850 1852 sp 1852 sp 1854 sp 1859 1870 1874 1874 sp 1876 1880 1883 1886 1886 sp 1889 1892 1894 sp 1899 1900 1900 sp 1904 1906 1908 1910 sp 1912 1916 1918 1922 1924 1928 1930 1934 1936 1940 1941 sp 1942 1946 1947 sp 1948 1952 1954 1958 1960 1964 1966 1970 1972 1976 1978 1982 1984 1988 1990 1994 1996 2000 2002 2006 2008 2008 sp 2012 2014 2018 2018 sp 2020 2024 2026 U.S. House 1801 1802 (Terr sp) 1806 1817 1819 1820 1822 1824 1826 At-large sp 1828 At-large sp 1830 1832 1835 1837 1839 1841 1843 1845 1847 1849 1851 1853 1855 1857 1858 5th sp 1859 1865 1868 1869 1872 1874 1876 1878 1880 1882 1884 1886 1888 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 1908 1910 1912 1914 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1934 1940 1942 1946 1950 1956 1962 1968 3rd sp 1972 1980 1981 4th sp 1982 1984 1986 1988 1989 5th sp 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2004 2006 2008 1st sp 2010 2012 2014 2015 1st sp 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024
State government State elections 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2020 2023 Gubernatorial elections 1817 1819 1821 1823 1825 1827 1829 1831 1833 1835 1837 1839 1841 1843 1845 1847 1849 1851 1853 1855 1857 1859 1861 1863 1865 1869 1873 1877 1881 1885 1889 1895 1899 1903 1907 1911 1915 1919 1923 1927 1931 1935 1939 1943 1947 1951 1955 1959 1963 1967 1971 1975 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023 2027 State Senate elections 2011 2015 2019 2023 House of Representatives elections 2011 2015 2019 2023 Attorney General elections 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023
Ballot measures 2001 Flag referendum 2004 Amendment 1 2020 Initiative 65 Measure 3
City of Jackson Mayoral elections 2005 2009 2013 2014 2017 2021 2025
Gulfport Mayoral elections 2005 2009 2013 2017 2021 2025
Southaven Mayoral elections 2005 2009 2013 2017 2021 2025
Biloxi Mayoral elections 2005 2009 2013 2017 2021 2025
Hattiesburg Mayoral elections 2005 2009 2013 2017 2021 2025
Meridian Mayoral elections 2025
Madison Mayoral elections 2025
Philadelphia Mayoral elections 2025
v t e

The 2015 Mississippi gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 2015, to elect the governor of Mississippi. Incumbent Republican governor Phil Bryant ran for re-election to a second and final term in office. This is the highest percentage that a Republican has ever won in a gubernatorial election in Mississippi.

The election gained national news coverage and attention due to the unexpected Democratic nominee selection of truck driver and former firefighter, Robert Gray, who had not had any political experience prior to his candidacy.

As of 2023, this is by far the best performance by a Republican in a gubernatorial election in Mississippi. This is also the only time that the following counties have voted Republican for governor: Clay, Marshall, Quitman, Sharkey, and Tallahatchie.

Background

Mississippi is one of nine states and territories that has lifetime limits of two terms for its governor. In 2011, with incumbent Republican governor Haley Barbour term-limited, Republican Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant was elected to succeed him. Bryant won the Republican primary with 59% of the vote and then defeated the Democratic nominee, Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree, with 61% of the vote.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Phil Bryant, incumbent governor
• Mitch Young

Declined

• Chris McDaniel, state senator and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014
• Michael Watson, state senator

Result

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Robert Gray, truck driver and retired firefighter
• Valerie Short, physician
• Vicki Slater, attorney

Declined

• Travis Childers, former U.S. representative and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2014
• Jim Hood, Attorney General of Mississippi (running for re-election)
• Bill Luckett, Mayor of Clarksdale and candidate for governor in 2011
• Dick Molpus, former Secretary of State of Mississippi and nominee for governor in 1995
• Brandon Presley, Commissioner for the Northern District of the Mississippi Public Service Commission and former mayor of Nettleton (running for re-election)

Result

Reform Party nomination

Candidate

• Shawn O'Hara, perennial candidate

General election

Predictions

Polling

Results

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Adams (largest city: Natchez)
• Clay (largest city: West Point)
• Kemper (largest city: De Kalb)
• Marshall (largest city: Holly Springs)
• Quitman (largest city: Lambert)
• Sharkey (largest city: Rolling Fork)
• Tallahatchie (largest city: Charleston)

See also

• 2015 Mississippi elections

References

1. Robertson, Campbell (September 7, 2015). "Chosen by Mississippi Democrats, Shy Trucker is at a Crossroad". The New York Times.
2. Geoff Pender (January 18, 2015). "Power Rankings: Top Session Issues". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
3. ^ Wagster Pettus, Emily (February 26, 2015). "Bryant to face primary challenge from Mitch Young". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
4. Geoff Pender (July 19, 2014). "Pender: Who's running for what in '15". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
5. Pender, Geoff (February 26, 2015). "McDaniel running for re-election to state Senate". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
6. Alexander Burns (June 24, 2014). "Mississippi's revolution may be just starting". Politico. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
7. Pender, Geoff (February 26, 2015). "Watson running for re-election, not higher office". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
8. "2015 REPUBLICAN PRIMARY". Mississippi Secretary of State. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
9. Nave, R.L. (August 5, 2015). "Robert Gray in (Truck) Driver's Seat to Challenge Gov. Phil Bryant". Jackson Free Press. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
10. Wagster Pettus, Emily (February 27, 2015). "All 8 statewide Mississippi officials challenged in election". The Sun Herald. Archived from the original on March 1, 2015. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
11. ^ Pender, Geoff (February 14, 2015). "Candidates playing chicken with deadline". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
12. Pender, Geoff (February 19, 2015). "Democratic Party announcing Slater for governor". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
13. Abby Livingston (September 25, 2013). "Mississippi Republicans Wait for Cochran's Decision". Roll Call. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
14. Floyd Ingram (July 31, 2013). "Jim Hood to open state office in Houston". Chickasaw Journal. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
15. "AP analysis: Mississippi party leaders preparing strategy for 2015". Gulf Live. August 25, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
16. Wright, Jesse (January 13, 2015). "'Draft Bill' movement not gaining traction with Luckett". Clarksdale Press Register. Archived from the original on January 18, 2015. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
17. Gates, Jimmie E. (December 30, 2014). "Brandon Presley says he isn't running for governor". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
18. "2015 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY". Mississippi Secretary of State. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
19. "2015 Candidate Qualifying List" (PDF). Mississippi Secretary of State. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
20. "2015-16 Governor Race ratings". The Cook Political Report.
21. "Gubernatorial Ratings | Inside Elections". www.insideelections.com.
22. "Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball » 2016 Governor". crystalball.centerforpolitics.org.
23. "Election Outlook: 2016 Race Ratings". Daily Kos. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
24. Mason-Dixon
25. ^ Public Policy Polling
26. Mason-Dixon Archived May 20, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
27. ^ Shawn O'Hara (Reform)
28. Mason-Dixon Archived May 20, 2015, at the Wayback Machine

External links

Campaign websites (archived)

• Phil Bryant (R)
• Robert Gray (D)
• Valerie Short (D)
• Vicki Slater (D)

• Mississippi gubernatorial elections
• 2015 United States gubernatorial elections
• November 2015 events in the United States
• 2015 Mississippi elections
• 2015 in Mississippi