1963 Mississippi House of Representatives special election in Lauderdale County

State election in the US June 2026 1963 Mississippi House of Representatives special election, Lauderdale County Mississippi 1894 by-election 1959 Mississippi House of Representatives election 1959 February 5, 1963 (first round)February 19, 1963 (runoff) 1963 Mississippi House of Representatives election Nov 1963 Mississippi House of RepresentativesLauderdale County Lewis McAllister (cropped).jpg Mississippi Republican Party Lewis McAllister 3,086 57.32% 3x4.svg Mississippi Democratic Party Dennis Goldman 2,298 42.68% Representative Natie Caraway Mississippi Democratic Party Lewis McAllister Mississippi Republican Party Lauderdale County in Mississippi held a special election on February 5, 1963, and February 19, 1963, to elect a new member of the Mississippi House of Representatives. The election filled the 11-month remainder of incumbent Democratic representative Natie Caraway's term, who resigned on January 1, 1963, after relocating to Jackson. Lewis McAllister won the seat during the February 19 runoff, flipping the seat to the Republicans. This race gained attention for being the first instance of a Republican being elected to Mississippi's state legislature in forty-three years.After 43 Years, Republicans Wins Seat in House https://www.newspapers.com/article/enterprise-journal-after-45-years-repub/169396290/ 3 April 2025 Enterprise-Journal Associated Press McAllister would later run in the November 1963 regular election and win a full term. The first round was held on the same day as a statewide referendum on reapportionment, marking the first reapportionment of the Mississippi Legislature since 1890.Walt Thatcher County Votes Heavily In Favor Of Amendment On Reapportioning https://www.newspapers.com/image/254931944/?match=1&clipping_id=169015182 28 March 2025 The Greenwood Commonwealth 6 February 1963 First round The special election was triggered when incumbent Democratic representative Natie Caraway announced his resignation in December 1962, effective January 1, 1963. Caraway stated his resignation was caused by his move from Meridian to Jackson to take a job at a law firm.Rep. Caraway is quitting post https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-mississippi-press-rep-caraway-is-qu/169010922/ 28 March 2025 The Mississippi Press United Press International 26 December 1962 The first round date was set to February 5, 1963, alongside a statewide amendment on reapportionment.Five Special Elections Set In State In Two Months https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenwood-commonwealth-five-special/169010821/ 28 March 2025 The Greenwood Commonwealth Associated Press Candidates had until January 25 to qualify, requiring 50 signatures to be placed on the ballot.Deadline Set In Lauderdale https://www.newspapers.com/article/clarion-ledger-deadline-set-in-lauderdal/169010741/ 28 March 2025 Clarion-Ledger 6 January 2025 Candidates Danny Beard (Democratic) J.C. Downey (Democratic) Ed Frasier (Democratic) Dennis Goldman, attorney (Democratic) Lewis McAllister, accountant and Mississippi Young Republicans leader (Republican) Results First round resultsRepublican Leads in Meridian https://www.newspapers.com/article/enterprise-journal-republican-leads-in-m/169009316/ 28 March 2025 Enterprise-Journal Archive Associated Press 6 February 1963 Lewis McAllister Mississippi Republican Party 2,212 46.04% Dennis Goldman Mississippi Democratic Party 917 19.09% 3 others Mississippi Democratic Party 1,675 34.87% 4,804 100.00% Runoff After the first round, Democratic candidates Beard, Downey, and Frasier were eliminated, with McAllister and Goldman advancing to the runoff. The three former candidates collectively endorsed second-place Democratic candidate Dennis Goldman, stating "in the interest of unity and harmony in our city and state, we the undersigned candidates, do hereby endorse our fellow Democrat, Dennis Goldman for representative inside the city, and hereby urge all our supporters to work and vote for Goldman."Three Demos For Goldman https://www.newspapers.com/article/clarion-ledger-three-demons-for-goldman/169009534/ 28 March 2025 Clarion-Ledger 8 February 1963 While campaigning, McAllister branded himself as a "Goldwater Republican". Results Runoff results Lewis McAllister Mississippi Republican Party 3,086 57.32% Dennis Goldman Mississippi Democratic Party 2,298 42.68% 5,384 100.00% Aftermath Immediately after the runoff, Bidwell Adam, former lieutenant governor and chair of the state Democratic Party, attributed McAllister's election to the Kennedy family, as part of an effort to destroy the Mississippi Democratic Party, stating "no one contributed more to the defeat of Mr. Goldman than did Mr. Robert Kennedy." Adam claimed that the Kennedy administration had "followed the pattern at Oxford Miss., that was set by Mr. Eisenhower in Little Rock," and the "national administration in Washington is determined to destroy the State Democratic organization and the last vestiges of states' rights." Chairman of the state Republican Party, Wirt Yerger, stated that "highly qualified and capable candidates who are opposed to the Kennedy and the Democratic party can win elections as full-fledged Republicans."Adam Sees JFK Hand In Solon Voting https://www.newspapers.com/article/sun-herald-adam-sees-jfk-hand-in-solon-v/169009772/ 28 March 2025 Sun Herald 20 February 1963 On his election, Lewis McAllister claimed "this is an indication of a trend towards a two-party state and a two-party South." McAllister was the first Republican in forty-three years to win election to the state house. The last to do so was former governor of Nebraska George L. Sheldon from Washington County, who served from 1920 to 1924. At the time of McAllister's election, the only other Republican holding public office in Mississippi was Joe Sams Jr., the attorney of Lowndes County. McAllister was sworn in on February 25, 1963.State Solons Gather Today https://www.newspapers.com/image/185692940/?match=1&clipping_id=169325860 1 April 2025 Clarion-Ledger 25 February 1963 References Category:1963 elections in the United States Mississippi House of Representatives, Lauderdale County Category:1963 Mississippi elections Category:February 1963 in the United States 1963