Results from the Mississippi Primaries: Gains Unlikely for Mississippi Women in November

CAWP Staff

LAST UPDATED: August 30, 2023 (9:30pm)

State legislative primaries were held on Tuesday in Mississippi. Full context about women in the 2023 elections, including candidate lists, summaries, and historical comparisons, is available via the Center for American Women and Politics’ (CAWP) Election Watch.

Among the most notable results for women:

  • Incumbent Attorney General Lynn Fitch (R) – who is currently the only woman holding statewide elective executive office in Mississippi – won the Republican nomination for re-election in November. She will be challenged by Democratic nominee Greta Martin (D) in a woman v. woman general election contest.
  • Addie Lee Green (D) won the Democratic nomination for treasurer. She will challenge incumbent State Treasurer David McRae (R) in November. If successful, Green would be the first Black woman elected statewide in Mississippi.
  • Women are 12 of 60 (20.0%) major-party nominees for state Senate and 23 of 138 (16.7%) major-party nominees for the state House in Mississippi. Women did not break records for total major-party nominations for either chamber in 2023.
  • Mississippi ranks 48th in the nation for women’s state legislative representation. Given the results of the primary election, it is unlikely that the state will see an increase in the number of women serving.

 

Statewide Elective Executive Office

Women currently hold 1 (1R) of 8 statewide elective executive offices in Mississippi. In 2023, 5 (3D, 2R) women, including 1 (1R) incumbent, filed as candidates for four statewide elective executive office. All statewide elective executive offices in Mississippi are up for election this year. No women have filed as major-party candidates for governor, secretary of state, state auditor, or commissioner of insurance.

Based on primary election results, women are 3 of 15 (20%) major-party nominees for statewide elective executive offices in Mississippi, including 2 of 7 (28.6%) Democrats and 1 of 8 (12.5%) Republicans. 

  • Incumbent Attorney General (R) Lynn Fitch won the Republican nomination for re-election in November. She will be challenged by Democratic nominee Greta Martin (D) in a woman v. woman general election contest.
  • Addie Lee Green (D) won the Democratic nomination for treasurer. She will challenge incumbent State Treasurer David McRae (R) in November. If successful, Green would be the first Black woman elected statewide in Mississippi.

 

State Senate

Women currently hold 10 (3D, 7R) of 52 seats in the Mississippi State Senate. In 2023, 17 (8D, 9R) women, including 9 (3D, 6R) incumbents, filed as candidates for state Senate. All Senate seats are up for election this year.

Based on primary election results, women are 12 of 60 (20.0%) major-party nominees for state Senate in Mississippi, including 4 of 20 (20%) Democrats and 8 of 40 (20.0%) Republicans. This falls short of the record high for women state Senate nominees (14), set in election 2019. In 2023, 3 (2D, 1R) women candidates for state Senate were unsuccessful. 

  • 8 (2D, 6R) women incumbents are nominees for re-election. No women incumbents were defeated. 
  • 3 (2D, 1R) women won nominations to challenge incumbents in November.
  • 1 (1R) woman won a nomination for an open-seat state Senate contest.

 

State House

Women currently hold 15 (6D, 7R, 2Ind) of 122 seats in the Mississippi House of Representatives. In 2023, 39 (24D, 13R, 2Ind) women, including 13 (5D, 6R, 2Ind) incumbents, filed as candidates for state House of Representatives. All House seats are up for election this year.

Based on primary results, women are 23 of 138 (16.7%) major-party nominees for state House in Mississippi, including 12 of 53 (22.6%) Democrats and 9 of 85 (10.6%) Republicans. Both Independent women incumbents will also be on the ballot in November. This falls short of the record high for women state House nominees (30), set in election 2019. In 2023, 12 (9D, 3R) women candidates for state House were unsuccessful. 

  • 11 (5D, 6R) women incumbents won nominations for re-election. In addition, both Independent women incumbents will be on the ballot in November. No women incumbents were defeated.
  • 3 (3D) women won nominations to challenge incumbents in November.
  • 7 (4D, 3R) women have already won nominations for open-seat state House contests. 

For full information about women in the 2023 elections, including candidate lists, summaries, and historical comparisons, see CAWP’s Election Watch.

CAWP Staff