Battle of Honey Springs

The Mississippi House of Representatives is the lower house of the Mississippi Legislature, the lawmaking body of the U.S. state of Mississippi. According to the state constitution of 1890, it is to comprise no more than 122 members elected for four-year terms. To qualify as a member of the House candidates must be at least 21 years old, a resident of Mississippi for at least four years, and a resident in the district for at least two years. Elections are held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

Membership, qualifications, and apportionment

Article 4, Section 36 of the Mississippi Constitution specifies that the state legislature must meet for 125 days every four years and 90 days in other years. The Mississippi House of Representatives has the authority to determine rules of its own proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and expel a member with a two-thirds vote of its membership.[1] Bills must undergo three readings in each house, unless two-thirds of the house dispenses with the rules.[1] They cannot be amended to a new purpose.[1] Amendments to bills must be approved by both houses.[1]

The governor has the power to veto legislation, but legislators can override the veto with a two-thirds decision.[1] From 1890 to 2020, State representatives were authorized under the Mississippi Constitution to elect the Governor of Mississippi if no candidate had received 62 of the 122 electoral votes (one per district) and more than 50% of the popular vote. This occurred only once, in 1999, when Ronnie Musgrove had the most votes statewide, but was one electoral vote and 2936 votes (0.38%) shy of a majority: Musgrove was elected on the first ballot.[2]

Salary

State representatives earn $23,500 per year.[3]

Current composition

The following composition reflects the balance of power after the 2023 elections. Republicans secured a majority for the fourth time since 2011, the first year when Republicans won the majority of seats in the State House since 1870.[4][5] The 2023 elections were marked by new leadership, as the past speaker Phillip Gunn retired, allowing his chief lieutenant, then-Speaker Pro Tempore Jason White to become the new speaker.[5] The 2023 elections saw the seating of 25 new members.[5]

State representatives are elected every four years by the qualified electors of the district for which they are running.[6] Candidates are required to be at least 21 years of age and a resident of the state and district for which they are campaigning.[7]

Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Democratic Republican Independent Vacant
End of previous legislature (2023) 40 76 3 119 3
Start of current legislature (2024) 41 79 2 122 0
Latest voting share 33.6% 64.8% 1.6%

List of members

District Representative Party Assumed Office Residence Notes
1 Lester Carpenter Republican 2008 Burnsville
2 Brad Mattox Republican 2024 Corinth
3 William Tracy Arnold Republican 2012 Booneville
4 Jody Steverson Republican 2012 Ripley
5 John Faulkner Democratic 2014 Holly Springs
6 Justin Keen Republican 2024 Byhalia
7 Kimberly Remak Republican 2024 Olive Branch
8 Trey Lamar Republican 2012 Senatobia
9 Cedric Burnett Democratic 2016 Tunica
10 Josh Hawkins Republican 2024 Batesville
11 Lataisha Jackson Democratic 2013 Como
12 Clay Deweese Republican 2020 Oxford
13 Steve Massengill Republican 2012 Hickory Flat
14 Sam Creekmore IV Republican 2020 New Albany
15 Beth Luther Waldo Republican 2024 Pontotoc
16 Rickey W. Thompson Democratic 2020 Shannon
17 Shane Aguirre Republican 2016 Tupelo
18 Jerry Turner Republican 2004 Baldwyn
19 Randy Boyd Republican 2012 Mantachie
20 Rodney Hall Republican 2024 Southaven
21 Donnie Bell Republican 2008 Fulton
22 Jon Ray Lancaster Republican 2020 Houston
23 Andrew Stepp Republican 2024 Bruce
24 Jeff Hale Republican 2016 Nesbit
25 Dan Eubanks Republican 2016 Walls
26 Orlando Paden Democratic 2016 Clarksdale
27 Kenji Holloway Democratic 2024 Carthage
28 Doc Harris Republican 2024 Hernando
29 Robert L. Sanders Democratic 2021 Cleveland
30 Tracey Rosebud Democratic 2018 Tutwiler
31 Otis Anthony Democratic 2019 Indianola
32 Solomon Osborne Democratic 2019 Greenwood
33 Jim Estrada Republican 2024 Saucier
34 Kevin Horan Republican 2012 Grenada
35 Joey Hood Republican 2012 Ackerman
36 Karl Gibbs Democratic 2013 West Point
37 Andy Boyd Republican 2023 Columbus
38 Cheikh Taylor Democratic 2018 Starkville
39 Dana McLean Republican 2020 Columbus
40 Hester Jackson-McCray Democratic 2020 Horn Lake
41 Kabir Karriem Democratic 2016 Columbus
42 Carl Mickens Democratic 2016 Brooksville
43 Rob Roberson Republican 2016 Starkville
44 C. Scott Bounds Republican 2004 Philadelphia
45 Keith Jackson Democratic 2024 Preston
46 Karl Oliver Republican 2016 Winona
47 Bryant Clark Democratic 2004 Pickens
48 Jason White Republican 2012 West Speaker of the House
49 Willie Bailey Democratic 1995 Greenville
50 John Hines Democratic 2001 Greenville
51 Timaka James-Jones Democratic 2024 Mississippi
52 Bill Kinkade Republican 2013 Byhalia
53 Vince Mangold Republican 2016 Brookhaven
54 Kevin Ford Republican 2018 Vicksburg
55 Oscar Denton Democratic 2014 Vicksburg
56 Clay Mansell Republican 2024 Clinton
57 Lawrence Blackmon Democratic 2024 Canton
58 Jonathan McMillan Republican 2024 Madison
59 Brent Powell Republican 2013 Brandon
60 Fred Shanks Republican 2018 Brandon
61 Gene Newman Republican 2020 Pearl
62 Lance Varner Republican 2024 Florence
63 Stephanie Foster Democratic 2020 Jackson
64 Shanda Yates Independent 2020 Jackson
65 Chris Bell Democratic 2016 Jackson
66 Fabian Nelson Democratic 2024 Byram
67 Earle S. Banks Democratic 1993 Jackson
68 Zakiya Summers Democratic 2020 Jackson
69 Tamarra Butler-Washington Democratic 2024 Jackson
70 Bo Brown Democratic 2020 Jackson
71 Ronnie Crudup Jr. Democratic 2019 Jackson
72 Justis Gibbs Democratic 2024 Jackson
73 Jill Ford Republican 2020 Madison
74 Lee Yancey Republican 2020 Brandon
75 Celeste Hurst Republican 2024 Sandhill
76 Gregory Holloway Sr. Democratic 2000 Hazlehurst
77 Price Wallace Republican 2018 Mendenhall
78 Randy Rushing Republican 2012 Decatur
79 Mark Tullos Republican 2016 Raleigh
80 Omeria Scott Democratic 1993 Laurel
81 Stephen Horne Republican 2004 Meridian
82 Charles Young Democratic 2012 Meridian
83 Billy Adam Calvert Republican 2020 Meridian
84 Troy Smith Republican 2020 Enterprise
85 Jeffery Harness Democratic 2019 Fayette
86 Shane Barnett Republican 2016 Waynesboro
87 Joseph Tubb Republican 2021 Purvis
88 Charles Blackwell Republican 2024 Ellisville
89 Donnie Scoggin Republican 2017 Ellisville
90 Noah Sanford Republican 2016 Collins
91 Bob Evans Democratic 2008 Monticello
92 Becky Currie Republican 2008 Brookhaven
93 Timmy Ladner Republican 2012 Poplarville
94 Robert Johnson III Democratic 2004 Natchez Minority leader
95 Jay McKnight Republican 2020 Gulfport
96 Angela Cockerham Independent 2005 Magnolia
97 Sam Mims V Republican 2004 McComb
98 Daryl Porter Jr. Democratic 2020 Summit
99 Bill Pigott Republican 2008 Tylertown
100 Ken Morgan Republican 2007 Morgantown
101 Kent McCarty Republican 2019 Hattiesburg
102 Missy McGee Republican 2017 Hattiesburg
103 Percy Watson Democratic 1980 Hattiesburg
104 Larry Byrd Republican 2008 Petal
105 Elliot Burch Republican 2024 Lucedale
106 Jansen Owen Republican 2020 Poplarville
107 Steve Lott Republican 2024 Lucedale
108 Stacey Hobgood-Wilkes Republican 2017 Picayune
109 Manly Barton Republican 2012 Moss Point Speaker pro tempore
110 Jeramey Anderson Democratic 2014 Escatawpa
111 Jimmy Fondren Republican 2024 Pascagoula
112 John Read Republican 1993 Gautier
113 Henry Zuber III Republican 2000 Ocean Springs
114 Jeffrey S. Guice Republican 2008 Ocean Springs
115 Zachary Grady Republican 2024 D'Iberville
116 Casey Eure Republican 2011 Saucier
117 Kevin Felsher Republican 2020 Biloxi
118 Greg Haney Republican 2012 Gulfport
119 Jeffrey Hulum III Democratic 2022 Gulfport
120 Richard Bennett Republican 2008 Long Beach
121 Carolyn Crawford Republican 2012 Pass Christian
122 Brent Anderson Republican 2020 Bay St. Louis

List of speakers

The House has elected a speaker 62 times since 1817:[8][a]

Name County/District Term of service
1 Thomas Barnes Claiborne 1817–1819
2 Edward Turner Adam 1819–1821
3 Beverly R. Grayson Adams 1821–1822
4 Gerard C. Brandon Wilkinson 1822–1823
5 Cowles Mead Jefferson 1823–1827
6 I. R. Nicholson Copiah 1827–1829
7 C. B. Greene Adams 1829–1830
8 William L. Sharkey Warren 1830–1831
9 Joseph Dunbar Jefferson 1831–1832
10 M. F. Degrafenreid Wilkinson 1832–1833
11 David Pembel Adams 1833–1834
12 A. L. Bingaman Adams 1834–1836
13 John Irvin Carroll 1836–1837
14 William Vannerson Lawrence 1837–1838
15 J. W. King Rankin 1838–1840
16 Jesse Speight Lowndes 1840–1841
17 James A. Ventress Wilkinson 1841–1842
18 Robert W. Roberts Scott 1842–1844
19 J. L. Totten Marshall 1844–1846
20 James Whitfield Lowndes 1846–1848
21 John J. McRae Clarke 1848–1852
22 William S. Patton Lauderdale 1852–1854
23 Hiram Cassedy Franklin 1854–1856
24 William S. Barry Lowndes 1856–1858
25 James L. Autry Marshall 1858–1859
26 J. A. P. Campbell Attala 1859–1861
27 William A. Lake Warren 1861–1862
28 J. P. Scales Carroll 1862–1863
29 Lock E. Houston Monroe 1863–1865
30 Samuel J. Gholson Monroe 1865–1866
31 F. E. Franklin Yazoo 1870 (died during his term as speaker)
32 Henry Waterman Warren Leake 1871–1872
33 John R. Lynch Adams 1872–1873
34 Hugh M. Street Prentiss 1873–1874
35 Isaac D. Shadd Warren 1874–1876
36 Hugh M. Street Prentiss 1876–1878
37 William A. Percy Washington 1878–1880
38 Benjamin F. Johns Amite 1880–1882
39 W. H. H. Tison Lee 1882
40 William M. Inge Alcorn 1884–1886
41 Jacob H. Sharp Lowndes 1886–1888
42 Charles B. Mitchell Pontotoc 1888–1890
43 James S. Madison Noxubee 1890–1892
44 Hugh M. Street Lauderdale 1892–1894
45 J. K. Vardaman Leflore 1894–1896
46 James F. McCool Attala 1896–1900
47 A. J. Russell Lauderdale 1900–1902
48 Emmet Thomas Washington 1904–1908
49 Hugh M. Street Lauderdale 1908–1912
50 Hillrie M. Quin Hinds 1912–1916
51 Mike Conner Covington 1916–1924
52 Thomas L. Bailey 1924–1936
53 Horace Stansel Sunflower 1936–1936
54 Fielding L. Wright 1936–1940
55 Samuel Lumpkin Lee 1940–1944
56 Walter Sillers Jr. Bolivar 1944–1966
57 John R. Junkin Adams 1966–1976
58 Buddie Newman 1976–1988
59 Tim Ford 18 1988–2004
60 William J. McCoy 3 2004–2012
61 Philip Gunn 56 2012–2024
62 Jason White 48 2024–Present

Past composition of the House of Representatives

See also

Notes

  1. ^ It is 62 speakers with the most recent election of Jason White.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Constitutional Provisions The Legislature And Legislation Rules of Procedure, Mississippi Legislature (accessed May 31, 2013)
  2. ^ Breen, Dallas (January 6, 2021). "Mississippi Voted Out Its Electoral College-Like Election Process". Mississippi Free Press. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  3. ^ "Comparison of state legislative salaries". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  4. ^ Wilkinson, Kaija (November 10, 2011). "GOP takes House; Busby leads Jones as of last count, but margin still very thin". gulflive.com. The Press-Reigster. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Corder, Frank (January 2, 2024). "Mississippi Legislature Gavels in for New Term". Magnolia Tribune. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  6. ^ Article 4, Section 34, Mississippi Constitution (accessed May 31, 2013)
  7. ^ Article 4, Section 41 Archived June 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Mississippi Constitution (accessed May 31, 2013)
  8. ^ Watson, Michael (2021). "Historical and Statistical Information" (PDF). 2020-2024 Statistical Register. Mississippi Secretary of State.

External links

32°18′14″N 90°10′55″W / 32.303889°N 90.182047°W / 32.303889; -90.182047