2008 United States Senate special election in Mississippi

none the other Senate election in Mississippi held in parallel 2008 United States Senate election in Mississippi March 2026 December 2017 2008 United States Senate special election in Mississippi Mississippi Flag of Mississippi (1996–2020).svg presidential no 2006 United States Senate election in Mississippi 2006 2012 United States Senate election in Mississippi 2012 November 4, 2008 150x150px File:SenatorRogerWicker(R-MS).jpg Roger Wicker Republican Party (United States) 683,409 54.96% File:David Ronald Musgrove (cropped).jpg Ronnie Musgrove Democratic Party (United States) 560,064 45.04% 170px County results 170px Congressional district results 170px Precinct results 250px Wicker: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% #c21b18 80–90% #A80000 >90%Musgrove: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90% #0d056c >90% U.S. Senator Roger Wicker Republican Party (United States) Roger Wicker Republican Party (United States) The 2008 United States Senate special election in Mississippi was held on November 4, 2008. This election was held on the same day of Thad Cochran's re-election bid in the regularly scheduled Class II election. The winner of this special election served the rest of the Senate term, which ended in January 2013. Unlike most Senate elections, this was a non-partisan election in which the candidate who got a majority of the vote won, and if the first-place candidate did not get 50%, a runoff election with the top two candidates would have been held. In the election, no runoff was necessary as Republican nominee and incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Roger Wicker won election to finish the term. Background thumb|Musgrove campaigning for Senate with Jim Webb in Jackson, Mississippi thumb|Supporters of Musgrove's senate campaign On December 18, 2007, U.S. Senator Trent Lott resigned in his fourth term to pursue "something else" in the private sector.Nossiter, Adam Herszenhorn, David M. amp Mississippi's Lott to Leave Senate Seat https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/27/washington/27lott.html The New York Times November 26, 2007Congressional Quarterly, December 19, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20090104042116/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000002646810 January 4, 2009 He ended up starting his own lobbying firm. Mississippi law stated that the governor of Mississippi had ten days after receiving official notification of the vacancy to appoint an interim senator pending a special election. On December 31, thirteen days after Lott's resignation, Governor Haley Barbour appointed U.S. Representative Roger Wicker.Bloomberg: Wicker Named to Replace Mississippi's Lott in SenateHattiesburg American: Barbour to name leader to fill Lott's seatAugust 2026 InternetArchiveBot http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071231/NEWS/712310319/1001/newsAugust 2026 InternetArchiveBot Jackson Clarion-Ledger Senate Pick to be Unveiled TodayWicker launches Senate campaign | clarionledger.com | The Clarion-LedgerAugust 2024 InternetArchiveBot yes Scheduling lawsuit Barbour scheduled the special election for November 4, 2008. Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood, a member of the Democratic Party, issued a non-binding opinion that the election must be held within one hundred days of Lott's resignation (no later than March 30, 2008), and sued Barbour in Hinds County Circuit Court, arguing that Barbour had 10 days to set a special election within 90 days (no later than March 29, 2008).FOX News: Trent Lott Resigns From U.S. Senate After Nearly Two Decades of ServiceWLBT 3 – Jackson, MS: Hood Files Suit to Have Special Election Earlier http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=7568072&nav=menu119_3 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080104175026/http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=7568072&nav=menu119_3 January 4, 2008 January 3, 2008 Hood argued the date of the special election to be March 11, the same day as Mississippi's presidential primary.http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=7562258&nav=2CSf WLBT 3 – Jackson, MS: AG Challenges Timing of Senate Election January 3, 2008 January 4, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080104175020/http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=7562258&nav=2CSf dead Governor Barbour claimed that the definition of "year" in the law in question is 365 days. Mississippi Secretary of State Eric Clark, the state's chief elections officer and a fellow Democrat, backed the governor's position.The ClarionLedger: AG opinion backs Democrats on timing of electionAugust 2026 InternetArchiveBot Judge Bobby DeLaughter ruled that the election must take place no later than March 19.Judge: AG right in election date spat | clarionledger.com | The Clarion-LedgerAugust 2026 InternetArchiveBot On February 6, 2008, after Barbour appealed to the Mississippi Supreme Court, which reversed Judge Delaughter and ruled that the non-partisan special election may be held on November 4.WLBT 3 – Jackson, MS: Barbour's Attorney Appeals Special-Elex Ruling http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=7690497&nav=menu119_2 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20081206095106/http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=7690497&nav=menu119_2 December 6, 2008 January 17, 2008djournal.comOctober 2026 medicmedic General election Candidates Note: Mississippi special elections are nonpartisan. Party labels are for informational purposes only. Ronnie Musgrove, former Governor"Wicker Launches Senate Campaign"August 2024 InternetArchiveBot yes, The Clarion-Ledger, January 1, 2008http://www.sunherald.com/306/story/279284.html Former governor Musgrove to run for U.S. Senate January 7, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080108134556/http://www.sunherald.com/306/story/279284.html January 8, 2008 dead (Democratic) Roger Wicker, incumbent U.S. senator (Republican) Withdrew Ronnie Shows, former U.S. representative from Bassfield (Democratic) (withdrew February 19, 2008) (endorsed Musgrove) Declined Mike Espy, former U.S. secretary of agriculture and U.S. representative from Yazoo City (Democratic) Harvey Johnson Jr., former mayor of Jackson (Democratic) Mike Moore, former Mississippi attorney general (Democratic) Former Governor Ronnie Musgrove, former U.S. Representative and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy, former Jackson mayor Harvey Johnson, Jr., former Governor Ray Mabus, and former Mississippi Attorney General Mike Moore were all considered potential Democratic candidates.Democrat Finally Jumps into Mississippi Senate Race Yahoo! News January 7, 2008 Of the five, only Musgrove decided to run. Former Congressman Ronnie Shows also decided to run, but withdrew on February 19, 2008, after determining that he could not raise enough funds to effectively campaign against Wicker and Musgrove. Shows gave his endorsement to Musgrove.Shows out of Senate race for Lott's seat | clarionledger.com | The Clarion-LedgerAugust 2026 InternetArchiveBot Associated Press via The Hattiesburg American, January 5, 2008August 2026 InternetArchiveBot Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report2008 Senate Race ratings for October 23, 2008 https://cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings/139080 The Cook Political Report April 1, 2021 June 25, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210625160336/https://cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings/139080 dead TossupOctober 23, 2008 CQ PoliticsRace Ratings Chart: Senate https://web.archive.org/web/20101028234525/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-senate October 28, 2010 CQ Politics Lean ROctober 31, 2008 Rothenberg Political Report2008 Senate ratings https://www.insideelections.com/ratings/senate/2008-senate-ratings Inside Elections April 1, 2021 Lean RNovember 2, 2008 Real Clear Politics2008 RCP Averages & Senate Results https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/senate/election_2008_senate_races.html Real Clear Politics August 31, 2021 Lean ROctober 29, 2008 Polling Poll Source Date(s) administered RonnieMusgrove RogerWickerRasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports October 27, 2008 43% 54%Rasmussen Reports September 30, 2008 47% 49%Rasmussen Reports August 23, 2008 42% 47%Rasmussen Reports July 28, 2008 42% 48%Rasmussen Reports June 26, 2008 47% 48%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports May 27, 2008 47% 46% Results 2008 United States Senate special election in Mississippi Nonpartisan candidate Roger Wicker (incumbent) 683,409 54.96% -8.62% Nonpartisan candidate Ronnie Musgrove 560,064 45.04% +10.17% 1,243,473 100.00% N/A Republican Party (United States) By county Countyhttps://www.sos.state.ms.us/elections/2008/08%20Certification%20Results/Cert/US%20Senate%20Special.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20250915102654/https://www.sos.state.ms.us/elections/2008/08%20Certification%20Results/Cert/US%20Senate%20Special.pdf September 15, 2025 live US Senate Special Hosemann Delbert Delbert Hosemann December 3, 2008 Secretary of State of Mississippi March 11, 2026Roger WickerRepublicanRonnie MusgroveDemocraticMarginTotal#%#%#%Adams5,94239.65%9,04360.35%-3,101-20.69%14,985Alcorn9,62466.07%4,94233.93%4,68232.14%14,566Amite3,82152.56%3,44947.44%3725.12%7,270Attala4,92255.66%3,92144.34%1,00111.32%8,843Benton2,27051.70%2,12148.30%1493.39%4,391Bolivar5,06235.05%9,38064.95%-4,318-29.90%14,442Calhoun4,38664.00%2,46736.00%1,91928.00%6,853Carroll3,70464.06%2,07835.94%1,62628.12%5,782Chickasaw4,29949.14%4,45050.86%-151-1.73%8,749Choctaw2,60266.26%1,32533.74%1,27732.52%3,927Claiborne1,10220.80%4,19579.20%-3,093-58.39%5,297Clarke4,78258.81%3,34941.19%1,43317.62%8,131Clay4,81345.29%5,81554.71%-1,002-9.43%10,628Coahoma3,04631.06%6,76068.94%-3,714-37.87%9,806Copiah6,39745.71%7,59754.29%-1,200-8.58%13,994Covington5,03354.73%4,16345.27%9709.46%9,196DeSoto41,36366.77%20,58533.23%20,77833.54%61,948Forrest14,62155.82%11,57444.18%3,04711.63%26,195Franklin2,60456.87%1,97543.13%62913.74%4,579George5,83865.05%3,13734.95%2,70130.09%8,975Greene3,47961.22%2,20438.78%1,27522.44%5,683Grenada5,99355.37%4,83044.63%1,16310.75%10,823Hancock10,37363.43%5,98136.57%4,39226.86%16,354Harrison35,45759.03%24,60840.97%10,84918.06%60,065Hinds35,74333.95%69,53666.05%-33,793-32.10%105,279Holmes2,14523.84%6,85276.16%-4,707-52.32%8,997Humphreys1,59332.11%3,36867.89%-1,775-35.78%4,961Issaquena37942.20%51957.80%-140-15.59%898Itawamba6,79069.99%2,91230.01%3,87839.97%9,702Jackson32,44962.05%19,84737.95%12,60224.10%52,296Jasper3,81642.66%5,13057.34%-1,314-14.69%8,946Jefferson82619.00%3,52281.00%-2,696-62.01%4,348Jefferson Davis2,77539.07%4,32860.93%-1,553-21.86%7,103Jones18,06663.05%10,58936.95%7,47726.09%28,655Kemper1,94138.57%3,09261.43%-1,151-22.87%5,033Lafayette10,65660.04%7,09239.96%3,56420.08%17,748Lamar17,11973.21%6,26626.79%10,85346.41%23,385Lauderdale18,84659.37%12,89840.63%5,94818.74%31,744Lawrence3,80356.17%2,96743.83%83612.35%6,770Leake4,69551.76%4,37548.24%3203.53%9,070Lee22,37564.95%12,07435.05%10,30129.90%34,449Leflore4,20633.28%8,43366.72%-4,227-33.44%12,639Lincoln9,76860.62%6,34539.38%3,42321.24%16,113Lowndes14,48955.27%11,72744.73%2,76210.54%26,216Madison26,92058.78%18,87441.22%8,04617.57%45,794Marion7,72960.78%4,98739.22%2,74221.56%12,716Marshall7,19147.56%7,92852.44%-737-4.87%15,119Monroe9,75257.70%7,14842.30%2,60415.41%16,900Montgomery2,98054.36%2,50245.64%4788.72%5,482Neshoba7,38466.18%3,77333.82%3,61132.37%11,157Newton6,16664.42%3,40635.58%2,76028.83%9,572Noxubee1,85329.42%4,44570.58%-2,592-41.16%6,298Oktibbeha9,89155.06%8,07344.94%1,81810.12%17,964Panola7,19245.74%8,53354.26%-1,341-8.53%15,725Pearl River13,76264.63%7,53235.37%6,23029.26%21,294Perry3,48764.05%1,95735.95%1,53028.10%5,444Pike8,13946.65%9,30753.35%-1,168-6.69%17,446Pontotoc9,23073.68%3,29726.32%5,93347.36%12,527Prentiss6,65262.94%3,91737.06%2,73525.88%10,569Quitman1,42737.08%2,42162.92%-994-25.83%3,848Rankin45,48873.54%16,36326.46%29,12547.09%61,851Scott6,01953.60%5,21046.40%8097.20%11,229Sharkey92034.28%1,76465.72%-844-31.45%2,684Simpson6,84456.50%5,26943.50%1,57513.00%12,113Smith5,48067.86%2,59532.14%2,88535.73%8,075Stone4,38463.10%2,56436.90%1,82026.19%6,948Sunflower3,46232.15%7,30767.85%-3,845-35.70%10,769Tallahatchie2,78842.18%3,82157.82%-1,033-15.63%6,609Tate7,19659.41%4,91640.59%2,28018.82%12,112Tippah6,31567.20%3,08232.80%3,23334.40%9,397Tishomingo5,47767.33%2,65732.67%2,82034.67%8,134Tunica1,26132.34%2,63867.66%-1,377-35.32%3,899Union8,08267.56%3,88032.44%4,20235.13%11,962Walthall3,82251.20%3,64348.80%1792.40%7,465Warren10,84451.75%10,10948.25%7353.51%20,953Washington6,44234.87%12,03365.13%-5,591-30.26%18,475Wayne5,20453.80%4,46946.20%7357.60%9,673Webster3,80071.70%1,50028.30%2,30043.40%5,300Wilkinson1,53133.19%3,08266.81%-1,551-33.62%4,613Winston5,34453.71%4,60546.29%7397.43%9,949Yalobusha3,68455.12%3,00044.88%68410.23%6,684Yazoo5,25448.25%5,63651.75%-382-3.51%10,890Totals683,40954.96%560,06445.04%123,3459.92%1,243,473 Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Adams (largest city: Natchez) Chickasaw (largest city: Houston) Clay (largest city: West Point) Copiah (largest city: Hazlehurst) Jasper (largest city: Bay Springs) Kemper (largest city: De Kalb) LeFlore (largest city: Greenwood) Panola (largest city: Batesville) Pike (largest city: McComb) Tallahatchie (largest city: Charleston) Yazoo (largest city: Yazoo City) right 170px Swing by county Legend #00a1c8 Democratic — +>15% #00bdec Democratic — +12.5-15% #09ceff Democratic — +10-12.5% #4bdbff Democratic — +7.5-10% #77e3ff Democratic — +5-7.5% #aaeeff Democratic — +2.5-5% #d5f6ff Democratic — +0-2.5% #ffaaaa Republican — +2.5-5% #ff2a2a Republican — +10-12.5% 170px Trend relative to the state by county Legend #00a1c8 Democratic — +>15% #00bdec Democratic — +12.5-15% #09ceff Democratic — +10-12.5% #4bdbff Democratic — +7.5-10% #77e3ff Democratic — +5-7.5% #aaeeff Democratic — +2.5-5% #d5f6ff Democratic — +0-2.5% #ffd5d5 Republican — +0-2.5% #ffaaaa Republican — +2.5-5% #ff8080 Republican — +5-7.5% #ff5555 Republican — +7.5-10% #ff2a2a Republican — +10-12.5% #ff0000 Republican — +12.5-15% #d40000 Republican — +>15% 170px County flips Legend Democratic #92c5de Hold #0671b0 Flip Republican #f48882 Hold By congressional district Wicker won three of four congressional districts, including two that elected Democrats.Mississippi: 2008 Election https://x.com/DrewSav/status/1939826709744033804 District Wicker Musgrove RepresentativeMississippi 1 1st 61% 39%Travis ChildersMississippi 2 2nd 36% 64%Bennie ThompsonMississippi 3 3rd59%41%Chip Pickering (110th Congress)Gregg Harper (111th Congress)Mississippi 4 4th 62% 38%Gene Taylor See also 2008 United States Senate elections Mississippi's 1st congressional district special election, 2008, an election to fill Roger Wicker's former U.S. House of Representatives seat References External links Roger Wicker official campaign website Ronnie Musgrove official campaign website The Real Roger Wicker site critical of Wicker https://web.archive.org/web/20140106165353/http://therealwicker.com/ January 6, 2014 by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Musgrove Facts site critical of Musgrove by the National Republican Senatorial Committee Mississippi 2008 Mississippi 2008 2008 Special Mississippi Special United States Senate Special United States Senate 2008