1981 Mississippi's 4th congressional district special election

none February 2026 May 2018 1981 Mississippi's 4th congressional district special election Mississippi 1894 by-election no 1980 United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi#District 4 1980 July 6, 1981 1982 United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi#District 4 1982 Mississippi's 4th congressional district File:Wayne Dowdy.png 150x150px Wayne Dowdy Democratic Party (United States) 55,656 50.41% File:Liles Williams.jpg Liles Williams Republican Party (United States) 54,744 49.59% 1981 MS-01 election results.svg 200px County resultsDowdy: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80%Williams: #e27f7f 50–60% U.S. Representative Jon Hinson Republican Party (United States) Wayne Dowdy Democratic Party (United States) A special election to determine the member of the United States House of Representatives for Mississippi's 4th congressional district was held on June 23, 1981, with a runoff held two weeks later on July 6. Democrat Wayne Dowdy defeated Republican Liles Williams in the runoff by 912 votes. Dowdy replaced Republican U.S. Representative Jon Hinson, who resigned from Congress following his arrest for engaging in sodomy. Mississippi's state law requires the Governor of Mississippi to call for a special election to be held to fill any vacancies. The election date is held 40 to 60 days after the Governor has officially sent out notice.Associated Press February 5, 1981 Hinson should resign from post if charge proven, leaders say https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20157016/hinson_should_resign/ Hattiesburg American May 20, 2018 Newspapers.com All candidates run on one ballot, with a runoff election scheduled for the first- and second-place finishers if no candidate received 50% of the vote. After Hinson's resignation, Republican Liles Williams won a primary nominating convention and faced multiple Democrats in the first round of the campaign. Williams finished in first place but failed to reach the majority vote required to avoid a runoff. He was seen as the favorite to with the election against the Democratic Mayor of McComb, Wayne Dowdy, who reached the runoff election with him. Williams ran his campaign sticking closely to President Ronald Reagan's policies – the 4th district had backed Reagan in the 1980 presidential election. Dowdy opposed the Reagan administration's tax cuts, specifically citing its cuts to Social Security and education. Another key point in the campaign was the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which Dowdy publicly supported renewing. In an upset, Williams lost to Dowdy in a closely fought runoff election by 912 votes. Dowdy successfully put together a coalition of rural whites and African American voters. His support of the Voting Rights Act successfully mobilized African American voters in the district and was seen as being a key factor in his victory.https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/09/us/mississippi-loss-2-warnings-for-gop-news-analysis.html MISSISSIPPI LOSS: 2 WARNINGS FOR G.O.P.; News Analysis The New York Times July 9, 1981 Clymer Adam Background District and campaigns Mississippi's 4th congressional district was created in 1841, and had consistently been held by Democrats for over a century as part of the Solid South.Lehew, Dudley November 4, 1964 Prentiss Walker Now Congressman https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29524629/prentiss_walker/ The Clarion-Ledger March 14, 2019 Newspapers.com Democrats held the 4th for 90 years since the end of Reconstruction, until the election of Republican Prentiss Walker in 1964 on the back of support from Republican presidential nominee Barry Goldwater. Thad Cochran's victory in 1972 led to longer-term Republican control of the seat and cemented GOP dominance in the district for a decade. After Cochran's 1978 election to the U.S. Senate, Jon Hinson easily held the seat for Republicans in a 1978 election. In 1981, Mississippi's 4th district contained much of the Southwestern portion of the state, just South of the Mississippi Delta. 53% of the district's registered voters came from Hinds County, where the district reached into portions of Jackson, Mississippi. 11 other mostly rural counties made up the rest of the district, including predominantly African-American Claiborne County. Hinson scandal and resignation thumb|left|Mississippi Democrats avoided making the Hinson scandals a large talking point during the 1980 election, but this The Clarion-Ledger editorial cartoon notes how they were using the scandals as a political weapon. Prior to his election to Congress, Jon Hinson was charged in 1976 with committing an obscene act at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Washington, D.C.Treyens, Cliff June 24, 1981 Hinson didn't give up without a stout battle https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20157159/timeline/ The Clarion-Ledger June 5, 2018 Newspapers.com He admitted during an August 1980 press conference to both the charge and to being one of the survivors of the 1977 fire at Cinema Follies, a theater frequented by the LGBT community.Estrada, Louie July 26, 1995 Jon C. Hinson Dies at 53 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1995/07/26/jon-c-hinson-dies-at-53/d61745b7-5f3a-4e6f-a5ce-31795b0c7533/ The Washington Post June 5, 2018 Hinson decided to preempt his opponents from leaking the information and held the press conference, stating, "I am not, never have been, and never will be a homosexual. I am not a homosexual. I am not a bisexual." Hinson went on to win reelection in 1980.Associated Press February 6, 1981 More calls for Hinson resignation https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20130771/henson_special_election_article/ Enterprise-Journal May 20, 2018 Newspapers.com Even though a sizable majority of the electorate opposed Hinson, the Democratic nominee Britt Singletary and Leslie B. McLemore, an African American independent, evenly split the remaining vote between them and allowed Hinson to win.Busbee 2014 368 Hinson's vote share among white voters in the district dropped precipitously from his 1978 performance, which Mississippi reporter Bill Minor felt was "probably because of the homosexual questions."Minor, Bill November 16, 1980 Fourth District 'safe seat' for Republicans https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22420830/4th_district_safe_seat_for_republicans/ Enterprise-Journal August 2, 2018 Newspapers.com In 1981, Hinson was arrested by United States Capitol Police at the Library of Congress on the felony charge of committing oral sodomy.Saiffen, Michael February 5, 1981 Mississippi's Rep. Hinson Arrested On Sex Charge https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20157057/hinson_arrested_on_sex_charge/ The Atlanta Constitution May 20, 2018 Newspapers.com Minority U.S. House Whip Trent Lott of Mississippi threatened to start House proceedings against Hinson, and his GOP allies in Mississippi quickly withdrew support from him. U.S. Senator Thad Cochran, Mississippi GOP Chairman Clarke Reed, former Mississippi GOP Chairman Wirt Yerger, and Haley Barbour among others in the state's GOP delegation and leadership called for Hinson's resignation. Democrats mostly stayed out of the fray, with Governor William Winter saying "it is not for me to judge" in regards to Hinson's scandal. The person Hinson was engaged in sexual activity with when arrested was African American, and the racial component made the charge harder for Hinson to overcome in Mississippi.Howard 2001 276–277 McLemore, who had run against Hinson as an independent in 1980, said, "The fact that the employee Hinson was caught with was black added insult to injury here in Mississippi."Harris, Art Treyens, Cliff June 17, 1981 Hinson's Memory Haunts His Mississippi District https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1981/06/17/hinsons-memory-haunts-his-mississippi-district/7b0b135f-9d49-41b5-95e0-4f2ce06ba125/ The Washington Post June 21, 2018 Congressman Hinson admitted himself to a Washington-area hospital "for professional care, counseling, and treatment" for a dissociative reaction, according to Hinson's administrative assistant.Associated Press February 6, 1981 Hospital admits Hinson https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20130771/henson_special_election_article/ Enterprise-Journal May 20, 2018 Newspapers.com Hinson initially pleaded not guilty to a lesser misdemeanor charge of attempted sodomy.United Press International February 5, 1981 Official Pleads Innocent to Sodomy https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20155615/jon_hinson_innoncent/ Fort Lauderdale News May 20, 2018 Newspapers.com Hinson later changed his plea to "no contest" and received a 30-day suspended jail term along with a year's long probation, provided that he continued to seek medical treatment.Neuman, Johanna Treyens, Cliff May 29, 1981 Hinson put on probation in sex case https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20816367/hinson_put_on_probation_in_sex_case/ The Clarion-Ledger June 9, 2018 Newspapers.com In a March letter to Governor Winter, Hinson announced he would be resigning effective April 13, 1981.Stickney, Ken 1981 Hinson to quit Congress, tells Governor https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/14/us/around-the-nation-hinson-to-quit-congress-he-tells-governor.html The New York Times May 20, 2018Neuman, Johanna March 14, 1981 Hinson resigns effective April 13 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20151307/jon_hinson_clip/ The Clarion-Ledger May 20, 2018 Newspapers.com After Hinson's resignation, the election was scheduled for June 23, 1981.Weidie, Wayne W. June 4, 1981 Fourth Congressional district race close as June 23 election nears https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20816968/fourth_congressional_district_race/ The Clarion-Ledger June 9, 2018 Newspapers.com Candidates Democratic Party Wayne Dowdy, Mayor of McCombPutnam, Judy Treyens, Cliff June 21, 1981 Candidates offer varied experience and philosophies to the 4th District https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20156831/breakdown_of_candidates_for_special/ The Clarion-Ledger May 18, 2018 Newspapers.com Ed Ellington, State Senator Britt Singletary, 1980 Democratic Nominee for the 4th district Michael Herring Republican Party Liles Williams, businessman Sarah Smith, inn owner Robert Weems, former Ku Klux Klan leader Independent Eddie McDaniel, former Ku Klux Klan member General election thumb|right|The 4th congressional district at the time of the election in this map is green. The district was anchored in Jackson, Mississippi in the Northeast and then covers the Southwest corner of the state. First round Campaign Mississippi Republicans decided to hold a convention to nominate one candidate, nervous that a wide field of Democrats could lock out their party from being in a runoff.Nash Taggart 2009 126–127 They endorsed Liles Williams, a businessman from Clinton, at a nominating convention in April.Associated Press April 7, 1981 Democratic chairman raps GOP selection https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20808784/democratic_chairman_raps_gop_selection/ Hattiesburg American June 9, 2018 Newspapers.com The Democrats chose not to endorse a particular candidate in the first round. Williams emerged as the early frontrunner in the race due to his money lead and endorsements from President Ronald Reagan, Vice President George H. W. Bush and other Republican leaders.Treyens, Cliff June 21, 1981 Cash clash ups ante in 4th District https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20156888/cash_clash_ups_ante/ The Clarion-Ledger May 30, 2018 Newspapers.com U.S. Senator Thad Cochran endorsed Williams two weeks out from Election Day.Treyens, Cliff June 9, 1981 Thad Cochran says he backs Williams https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20697670/thad_cochran_says_he_backs_williams/ The Clarion-Ledger June 5, 2018 Newspapers.com Labor groups in the district largely backed Democratic candidates: Wayne Dowdy was endorsed by the Mississippi AFL–CIO and both Dowdy and Britt Singletary were endorsed by the Mississippi Association of Educators. One of the largest issues in the first round was the amount of money the campaigns had on hand. Democrat Michael Herring said, "I've learned that to be a viable candidate, you've got to have one speech and a lot of money to snow people on TV." Williams led the fundraising with more than $206,000 raised a week before the election, leading Democrats Britt Singletary and Ed Ellington to both focus on attacking Williams's money haul for the last week of the campaign. Both Singletary and Ellington attacked Williams for the amount of outside money that he received in particular, with Singletary saying, "[Williams] is not his own man." Other candidates tried to carve out niches to make it to the runoff. Robert Weems ran for the Republican nomination with the campaign slogan of "Vote Right, Vote White, Vote Weems". He was kicked out of his leadership position with the Ku Klux Klan after going to a Jackson house party attended by neo-Nazis.The Klan had a policy of not associating with Nazi groups. Singletary tried to capitalize on his role as the Democratic nominee in the 4th congressional district from 1980, and State Senator Ed Ellington attempted to use his experience in the Mississippi Legislature as a way to make the runoff. The Clarion-Ledger felt that Williams was a lock for first place, and that the real battle was for the second slot in the runoff to face him.Treyens, Cliff June 21, 1981 Candidates circle wagons, attack bulging budgets https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20809031/candidates_circle_wagons_attack/ The Clarion-Ledger June 9, 2018 Newspapers.com Wayne Weidie with The Political Scene felt that Singletary would be the Democrat to make the runoff. The extension of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 became a contentious issue in the campaign leading into the runoff.Glaser 1998 47–48Nash Taggart 2009 127 Where Singletary had focused extensively on tying Hinson's scandals to Williams, Dowdy was the only major candidate from either party to support the Act's extension.Glaser 1998 47 The other candidates in the race believed that Dowdy had "completely alienated his white base".Glaser 1998 47 Results The results were seen as a strong win for the GOP and marked Williams as the favorite in the runoff.Treyens, Cliff June 24, 1981 Williams had broad support in GOP win https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20155711/special_primary/ The Clarion-Ledger May 30, 2018 Newspapers.com The extension of the Voting Rights Act was one of the main reasons why Dowdy made it through the first round.Glaser 1998 47–48 The Clarion-Ledger noted that Williams ran up respectable numbers in African American precincts and was in a strong position to gain the votes needed to win. The election itself was marred by poll workers asking for social security numbers from voters, which was heavily criticized by the League of Women Voters and local residents.Putnam, Judy Pendergrast, Loretta June 24, 1981 Voters gripe at I.D. requests https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20705718/voters_gripe_at_id_requests/ The Clarion-Ledger June 5, 2018 Newspapers.com Poll workers in Hinds County were instructed to ask for the numbers to help purge the voter rolls of inactive voters, but the County Election Commission failed to notify the public about the procedure. One poll worker when asked did not know why they were collecting the social security information. A District Commissioner had to go on local radio stations to stop poll workers from asking for the numbers. The Election Commission and the Circuit Clerk were inundated with phone calls from irate voters throughout the day and State Senator Henry Kirksey felt that it was a violation of the Voting Rights Act. Mississippi's 4th congressional district special election, 1981https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=377389 MS District 4 - Special Election Primary Our Campaigns June 5, 2018 Republican Party (United States) Liles Williams 37,291 43.62% Democratic Party (United States) Wayne Dowdy 22,742 26.60% Democratic Party (United States) Britt Singletary 12,271 14.35% Democratic Party (United States) Ed Ellington 11,441 13.38% Democratic Party (United States) Michael T. Herring 611 0.72% Republican Party (United States) Robert L. Weems 524 0.61% Independent (politician) E. L. McDaniel 413 0.48% Republican Party (United States) Sarah A. Smith 194 0.23% 85487 100.00% 14,477 17.02% Runoff election Campaign After the first round results, Democrat Wayne Dowdy faced Republican Liles Williams in a two-week runoff campaign. In late June, Williams had raised $276,514 while Dowdy had only brought in $115,691.Treyens, Cliff June 27, 1981 Williams outspends Dowdy in campaign's dollar battle https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20156561/williams_outspends_dowdy/ The Clarion-Ledger June 5, 2018 Newspapers.com Williams was seen as the favorite to win the runoff.Treyens, Cliff June 27, 1981 Williams floods 4th district during summer rainstorm https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20156528/ms4_profile_of_both_candidates/ The Clarion-Ledger June 5, 2018 Newspapers.com Associated Press July 5, 1981 Tuesday's runoff election to choose new Congressman https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20809873/tuesdays_runoff_election_to_choose_new/ Hattiesburg American June 5, 2018 Newspapers.com Williams ran his campaign sticking closely to President Ronald Reagan's policies – the 4th district had backed Reagan in the 1980 presidential election.Hampton, David May 17, 1981 4th District Race Feels the Reagan Effect https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20810014/4th_district_race_feels_the_reagan/ The Clarion-Ledger June 9, 2018 Newspapers.com Barone Ujifusa 1988 653 Dowdy opposed the Reagan administration's tax cuts, specifically citing its cuts to Social Security and education.Putnam, Judy July 5, 1981 Dowdy propels campaign with zest https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20156528/ms4_profile_of_both_candidates/ The Clarion-Ledger June 5, 2018 Newspapers.com Letters bearing Reagan's signature were sent to 85,000 of the district's Republicans to support Williams.Glaser 1998 49 President Reagan made a phone call that was piped through to a Republican rally. Addressing a cheering crowd, Reagan told Williams "We're waiting for you up here and need your help."Glaser 1998 49 Dowdy criticized Williams as a "rubber stamp" for President Reagan's policies, although Dowdy avoided directly criticizing Reagan himself throughout the campaign.Glaser 1998 50 Dowdy instead focused on local issues and couched criticism of Reagan through that lens.Glaser 1998 49–50 Another key point in the campaign was the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which Dowdy publicly supported keeping. Dowdy would talk about his support for the legislation in debates when pressed, and avoided talking about the issue in his television ads.Glaser 1998 48 However, in front of the African American community, Dowdy aggressively and publicly supported the Act.Glaser 1998 48–49 Medgar Evers's niece cut a radio ad for Dowdy targeting African Americans and invoked Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy to vote Dowdy.Glaser 1998 49 Dowdy challenged Williams to a series of 12 Lincoln–Douglas-style debates across the 4th district, which the Williams campaign characterized as "grandstanding".Putnam, Judy June 26, 1981 Dowdy challenges foe to series of debates https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20697802/dowdy_challenges_foe_to_series_of/ The Clarion-Ledger June 5, 2018 Newspapers.com The two eventually agreed to a televised debate on WAPT.Treyens, Cliff June 27, 1981 Williams, Dowdy set tentative TV debate https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20156561/williams_outspends_dowdy/ The Clarion-Ledger June 5, 2018 Newspapers.com In the final stretch of the campaign, Williams continued his fundraising advantage.Treyens, Cliff June 26, 1981 Williams gets $6,100 per day during 11-day period https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20697768/williams_gets_6100_per_day_during/ The Clarion-Ledger June 5, 2018 Newspapers.com The Clarion-Ledger and The Jackson Daily News both endorsed Williams in the closing stretch of the runoff.The Editorial Board July 5, 1981 We back Williams https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20705870/williams_endorsement/ The Clarion-Ledger June 5, 2018 Newspapers.com On Election Day, voters were generally not asked for their social security number as they had been in the primary, although some voters in Hinds County were still asked for their numbers.Cilwick, Ted Zimmerman, Martin July 8, 1981 Turnout high, procedures smooth at precincts The Clarion-Ledger https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20156093/dowdy_special_results/ June 5, 2018 Newspapers.com Results In what reporters considered an upset, Wayne Dowdy won a narrow election by just 912 votes.July 8, 1981 Democrat Wins Mississippi Seat in Congress with Blacks' Help https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20156621/democrat_wins_mississippi_seat_in/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch Associated Press June 5, 2018 Newspapers.com Early articles showed Dowdy with a 1,026 vote win, but upon certification of the results, Dowdy won by 912 votes. Election turnout went past 110,000 voters for one of the largest contemporary runoff turnouts nationwide. Dowdy won with a coalition of African Americans who supported his stance on the Voting Rights Act, along with rural white voters.Glaser 1998 50–52 Williams ran ads attacking labor unions, which helped drive rural white voters towards Dowdy.Krane Shaffer 1992 86 The Clarion-Ledger noted that rural and African American turnout was up past expectations, and felt this increase was responsible for Dowdy's win.Treyens, Cliff July 8, 1981 Surge in black, rural turnout put Dowdy over the top https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20156093/dowdy_special_results/ The Clarion-Ledger June 5, 2018 Newspapers.com Dowdy credited African American voters for his win, saying they were "very, very helpful".Associated Press July 8, 1981 Reaganite fails to stop Mississippi Democrats https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20157297/ap_article_on_dowdy_win/ Mansfield News Journal June 5, 2018 Newspapers.com Speculation that some of Senator Ed Ellington's vote in Hinds County would shift to Williams in a runoff ended up not coming to fruition. Williams did not concede defeat on Election night and decided to wait until the results could be confirmed with full accuracy. He conceded defeat the next afternoon at a 2PM press conference once an arithmetically accurate count had been completed.Putnam, Judy July 10, 1981 Dowdy sworn in; final tally shows 912-vote margin https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20156457/final_results_dowdy/ The Clarion-Ledger June 5, 2018 Newspapers.com Dowdy denied that his victory was a plebiscite on President Reagan's policies, saying that it was a "vote between two candidates" and pushed back on his race's national implications.Treyens, Cliff July 9, 1981 Dowdy takes seat in Capitol today https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20156440/dowdy_goes_to_congress/ The Clarion-Ledger June 5, 2018 Newspapers.com Dowdy explained that their campaign went to "great lengths not to run against [President Reagan]." The Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Tony Coelho called the victory a repudiation of "the idea of a Solid South for Reagan."Glaser 1998 52 Republicans publicly attributed Williams's loss to the challenges created by Hinson's scandals.Glaser 1998 52 The Washington Post reported, however, that Republicans in DC were concerned about the implications of losing a conservative House seat for the 1982 midterm elections.Nash Taggart 2009 127 Mississippi's 4th district special election runoff, 1981 Democratic Party (United States) Wayne Dowdy 55,656 50.41% +21.01% Republican Party (United States) Liles Williams 54,744 49.59% +10.62% 110,400 100.0% 912 .08% 110,400 Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) 21.01% Aftermath Liles Williams announced his candidacy in 1982 to face Congressman Dowdy in a rematch from their special election matchup.Hampton, David May 23, 1982 Williams delivery charges Dowdy is inconsistent https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20156187/williams_runs_again/ The Clarion-Ledger June 5, 2018 Newspapers.com Unlike in the special where Williams was the heavy favorite, Congressman Dowdy was viewed as the stronger contender for re-election while Reagan's numbers sagged nationally.Minor, Bill October 28, 1982 Stronger GOP support dies https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20709264/columbianprogress/ Columbian-Progress June 5, 2018 Newspapers.com Dowdy was able to fend off both Williams and an independent African American challenger and comfortably won re-election by over 11,000 votes.November 4, 1982 Williams concedes, declines comment https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20709368/clarionledger/ The Clarion-Ledger June 5, 2018 Newspapers.com Dowdy continued to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives until he decided to run for the open U.S. Senate seat in 1988 and lost to Congressman Trent Lott.Stewart, Steve November 9, 1988 Dowdy: Senate race may be my last https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20709557/dowdy_senate_race_may_be_last/ Enterprise-Journal June 5, 2018 Newspapers.com DOWDY, Charles Wayne, (1943 - ) Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved June 10, 2018. Notes References Sources Barone Michael Ujifusa Grant The almanac of American politics, 1984 1988 National Journal 0-89234-031-2 Nash Jere Taggart Andy 2009 Mississippi Politics: The Struggle for Power, 1976-2008 https://books.google.com/books?id=avs12QS3EZ4C University Press of Mississippi 978-1604733570 Krane Dale Shaffer Stephen D. 1992 Mississippi Government and Politics: Modernizers Versus Traditionalists https://books.google.com/books?id=ygMQDdnlH6cC University of Nebraska Press 080327758X Howard John October 10, 2001 Men Like That: A Southern Queer History https://books.google.com/books?id=q077jM9qDvwC&pg=PA263 University of Chicago Press 0226354709 Glaser James M. 1998 Race, Campaign Politics, and the Realignment in the South https://books.google.com/books?id=ZVO72tDQ544C&pg=PA49 Yale University Press 0300077238 Busbee Wesley Jr. December 31, 2014 Mississippi: A History https://books.google.com/books?id=5rzlBQAAQBAJ John Wiley & Sons 978-1118755907 Further reading Kuzenski John C. Moreland Laurence W. Steed Robert P. 2001 Eye of the Storm: The South and Congress in an Era of Change https://books.google.com/books?id=ygMQDdnlH6cC Greenwood Publishing Group 0275971147 Mississippi 1981 04 Mississippi 1981 04 1981 04 Special Mississippi 04 Special United States House of Representatives 04 Special United States House of Representatives 1981 04