A general election was held in Mississippi on November 6, 2007, to elect to 4 year terms for all members of the Mississippi State Legislature (122 representatives, 52 senators), the offices of Governor of Mississippi, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Auditor, State Treasurer, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, and Commissioner of Insurance, plus all three members of the Mississippi Transportation Commission and Mississippi Public Service Commission.^[1]

Quick Facts

2007 Mississippi elections

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The election was generally a success for Republicans, as they held all their statewide elected offices, and won the open Secretary of State and Insurance Commissioner seats, leaving Attorney General Jim Hood the only statewide elected Democratic officeholder. However, Democrats regained control of the State Senate and maintained their majority in the House of Representatives, won a 2-1 majority on the Public Service Commission, and held their 2-1 majority on the Transportation Commission.

All 122 representatives and 52 senators of the Mississippi State Legislature are elected for four-year terms with no staggering of terms. The state legislature draws up separate district maps for the Mississippi House of Representatives and the Mississippi Senate, usually after the federal U.S. Census. There are no term limits for members of both houses of the legislature.

According to the state constitution, a statewide officer must win both the majority of electoral votes and the majority of the popular vote to be elected.

The number of electoral votes equals the number of Mississippi House of Representatives districts, currently set at 122. A plurality of votes in each House District is required to win the electoral vote for that District. In the event of a tie between the two candidates with the highest votes, the electoral vote is split between them.

In the event an officeholder does not win both the majority electoral and majority popular vote, the House of Representatives shall choose the winner. The Democrats held a large edge (73–46 with three vacancies) in the House, thus ensuring that any contested race will go to the Democratic candidate.

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce election, 2007

← 2003 November 6, 2007 (2007-11-06) 2011 →

Nominee Lester Spell Ricky Cole Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 371,191 308,693 Percentage 51.0% 42.4%

County results Spell:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Cole:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce before election Lester Spell Republican Elected Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Lester Spell Republican

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Lester Spell was elected as a Democrat in 2003, but changed his party affiliation to Republican ahead of the 2007 elections.