Updated: Special Senate Election Day Results
Mississippi Democrats Shatter GOP Supermajority in State Senate Shift
Mississippi voters broke the Republican supermajority in the state Senate Tuesday night, ushering in a new era of bipartisan accountability and signaling a dramatic rebuke of far-right policies.
The victory, hailed by Democratic leaders as a triumph for democracy, was made possible by protections under the Voting Rights Act—now facing scrutiny before the U.S. Supreme Court.
A three-judge panel earlier ordered the special elections after court-mandated redistricting following a lawsuit.
Democratic candidates secured decisive wins across key regions, from the Delta to the Pine Belt.
Two of the victories came in districts affecting DeSoto County; Senate District 2, where two first-time Senate candidates were involved, and in Senate District 11, where an incumbent Democratic senator was challenged by a first-time candidate from DeSoto County.
At the same time, Mississippi Republican Party chairman Mike Hurst said the results were not entirely unexpected, pointing to the court-mandated redistricting issue that forced the vote.
“Yesterday’s disappointing, though expected, special election losses are attributed to districts Republicans view as gerrymandered by an unelected court,” Hurst said. “These results do not change the overall conservative direction of the Republican-led state legislature, and we remain proud of the significant efforts by our candidates and party. Moving forward, we will continue to fight for fair districts through legal and legislative means while redoubling our efforts to recruit strong candidates and expand outreach across the state.”
Key Democratic Victories Across Mississippi
- Theresa Isom (Senate District 2 – DeSoto, Tunica)
- Reginald Jackson (Senate District 11 – DeSoto, Coahoma, Quitman, Tunica):
Other Democratic Victories in Mississippi
- Justin Crosby (House District 22 – Chickasaw, Monroe, Clay)
- Johnny DuPree (Senate District 45 – Forrest, Lamar)
Voter turnout in DeSoto County Tuesday was 20,819, or 15.78 percent. There were 1,807 absentee ballots cast before Saturday’s deadline at 12 noon.
| DeSoto County Precincts: | 47 of 47 and absentee ballots |
| Senate District 1 | Parts of DeSoto and Tate Counties |
| Candidate | All Votes |
| Chris Hanna (D) | 1927 |
| *Michael McLendon (R) | 4940 |
| Senate District 2 | Parts of DeSoto and Tunica Counties (6 of 6 precincts in Tunica) |
| Candidate | All votes |
| Theresa Gillespie Isom (D) | 3539 |
| Charlie Hoots (R) | 2099 |
| Senate District 11 | Parts of DeSoto, Tate and Tunica Counties, including Walls |
| Candidate | All votes |
| *Reginald Jackson (D) | 4643 |
| Kendall Prewitt (R) | 2257 |
| Senate District 19 | DeSoto County |
| Candidate | All votes |
| Dianne Dodson Black (D) | 2934 |
| *Kevin Blackwell (R) | 3277 |
