2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi

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.

2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi

November 4, 2008 (2008-11-04)
All 4 Mississippi seats to the United States House of Representatives
Majority party Minority party   Party Democratic Republican Last election 2 2 Seats before 3 1 Seats won 3 1 Seat change Popular vote 731,805 527,330 Percentage 57.86% 41.69% Swing 14.52% 8.96%
Democratic   40–50%   50–60%   60–70%   80–90%   >90% Republican   40–50%   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   >90% Tie/No Data

Mississippi has four seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States census. Representatives were elected for two-year terms; those elected served in the 111th Congress from January 4, 2009 until January 3, 2011. The election coincided 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 comprised three Democrats and one Republican. As of 2024, 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
Party		Votes	Percentage	Seats	+/–
	Democratic	731,805	57.86%	3
	Republican	527,330	41.69%	1
	Independents	3,736	0.30%	0
	Green	1,876	0.15%	0
Totals		1,264,747	100.00%	4

District 1

2008 Mississippi's 1st congressional district election

Nominee Travis Childers Greg Davis Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 185,959 149,818 Percentage 54.46% 43.88%

Childers:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Davis:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      No Data

U.S. Representative before election Travis Childers Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Travis Childers Democratic

See also: Mississippi's 1st congressional district

See also: 2008 Mississippi's 1st congressional district special election

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 along with Green Party candidate John Wages, Jr., a college professor and farmer; and independent candidate Wally Pang, a restaurant owner. 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

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Travis Childers (inc.)	185,959	54.46
	Republican	Greg Davis	149,818	43.88
	Independent	Wally Pang	3,736	1.09
	Green	John M. Wages, Jr.	1,876	0.55
Total votes			341,389	100.00
	Democratic hold

District 2

2008 Mississippi's 2nd congressional district election

Nominee Bennie Thompson Richard Cook Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 201,606 90,364 Percentage 69.05% 30.95%

Thompson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Cook:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      No Data

U.S. Representative before election Bennie Thompson Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson Democratic

See also: Mississippi's 2nd congressional district

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. 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

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bennie Thompson (inc.)	201,606	69.05
	Republican	Richard Cook	90,364	30.95
Total votes			291,970	100.00
	Democratic hold

District 3

2008 Mississippi's 3rd congressional district election

Nominee Gregg Harper Joel Gill Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 213,171 127,698 Percentage 62.54% 37.46%

Harper:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Gill:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%      No Data

U.S. Representative before election Chip Pickering Republican Elected U.S. Representative Gregg Harper Republican

See also: Mississippi's 3rd congressional district

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. 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

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Gregg Harper	213,171	62.54
	Democratic	Joel Gill	127,698	37.46
Total votes			340,869	100.00
	Republican hold

District 4

2008 Mississippi's 4th congressional district election

Nominee Gene Taylor John McCay III Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 216,542 73,977 Percentage 74.54% 25.46%

Taylor:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% McCay:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      No Data

U.S. Representative before election Gene Taylor Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Gene Taylor Democratic

See also: Mississippi's 4th congressional district

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

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gene Taylor (inc.)	216,542	74.54
	Republican	John McCay III	73,977	25.46
Total votes			290,519	100.00
	Democratic hold

External links

• Elections Division from the Mississippi Secretary of State
• U.S. Congress candidates for Mississippi at Project Vote Smart
• Campaign contributions for Mississippi congressional races from OpenSecrets