2015 Mississippi gubernatorial election

See also: 2015 Mississippi elections

2015 Mississippi gubernatorial election

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November 3, 2015

x160px Nominee Phil Bryant Robert Gray Party Republican Democratic Electoral vote 85 37 Popular vote 480,399 234,858 Percentage 66.24% 32.38%

150px County results Bryant:      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

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.

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

Republican primary results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Phil Bryant (incumbent)	256,689	91.86%
	Republican	Mitch Young	22,738	8.14%
Total votes			279,427	100.00%

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

File:Mississippi Governor D Primary 2015.svg

Results by county

Democratic primary results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robert Gray	152,087	50.80%
	Democratic	Vicki Slater	91,104	30.43%
	Democratic	Valerie Short	56,177	18.77%
Total votes			299,368	100.00%

Reform Party nomination

Candidate

• Shawn O'Hara, perennial candidate

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report	Safe R	October 26, 2015
Rothenberg Political Report	Safe R	October 27, 2015
Sabato's Crystal Ball	Safe R	October 29, 2015

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Phil Bryant (R)	Robert Gray (D)	Shawn O'Hara (Ref)	Undecided
Mason-Dixon	October 21–25, 2015	625	± 4%	66%	28%	1%	5%

Hypothetical polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Phil Bryant (R)	Jim Hood (D)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	July 10–13, 2014	691	± 3.7%	44%	33%	—	22%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Phil Bryant (R)	Brandon Presley (D)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	July 10–13, 2014	691	± 3.7%	49%	26%	—	25%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Phil Bryant (R)	Valerie Short (D)	Other	Undecided
Mason-Dixon	April 21–23, 2015	625	± 4%	63%	28%	3%	6%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Phil Bryant (R)	Vicki Slater (D)	Other	Undecided
Mason-Dixon	April 21–23, 2015	625	± 4%	61%	30%	2%	7%

External links

Campaign websites (archived)

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