2015 Mississippi gubernatorial election

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For related races, see 2015 United States gubernatorial elections.

2015 Mississippi gubernatorial election
← 2011
November 3, 2015
2019 →
 
Nominee Phil Bryant Robert Gray
Party Republican Democratic
Electoral vote 85 37
Popular vote 480,399 234,858
Percentage 66.24% 32.38%
Bryant:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Gray:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Governor before election

Phil Bryant
Republican

Elected Governor

Phil Bryant
Republican

The 2015 Mississippi gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 2015, to elect the governor of Mississippi. Incumbent Republican governor Phil Bryant won a second and final term in office with more than 66% of votes. This is the highest percentage and vote share that a Republican has ever won in a gubernatorial election in Mississippi.

The election gained national news coverage and attention due to the unexpected Democratic nominee selection of truck driver and former firefighter, Robert Gray, who had not had any political experience prior to his candidacy.[1] As of 2026, this is the last time that the following counties have voted Republican for governor: Clay, Marshall, Quitman, Sharkey, and Tallahatchie.

Background

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Mississippi is one of nine states and territories that has lifetime limits of two terms for its governor. In 2011, with incumbent Republican governor Haley Barbour term-limited, Republican Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant was elected to succeed him. Bryant won the Republican primary with 59% of the vote and then defeated the Democratic nominee, Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree, with 61% of the vote.

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Declared

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Declined

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Result

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Republican primary results[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Phil Bryant (incumbent) 256,689 91.86%
Republican Mitch Young 22,738 8.14%
Total votes 279,427 100.00%

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Declared

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  • Robert Gray, truck driver and retired firefighter[3][9]
  • Valerie Short, physician[10]
  • Vicki Slater, attorney[11][12]

Declined

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Result

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Results by county
Map legend
  •   Gray—60–70%
  •   Gray—50–60%
  •   Gray—40–50%
  •   Gray—30–40%
  •   Slater—40–50%
  •   Short—40–50%
Democratic primary results[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert Gray 152,087 50.80%
Democratic Vicki Slater 91,104 30.43%
Democratic Valerie Short 56,177 18.77%
Total votes 299,368 100.00%

Reform Party nomination

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Candidate

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General election

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Predictions

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Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[20] Safe R October 26, 2015
Rothenberg Political Report[21] Safe R October 27, 2015
Sabato's Crystal Ball[22] Safe R October 29, 2015
DKE[23] Safe R October 29, 2015

Polling

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Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Phil
Bryant (R) 		Robert
Gray (D) 		Shawn
O'Hara (Ref) 		Undecided
Mason-Dixon[24] October 21–25, 2015 625 ± 4% 66% 28% 1% 5%
Hypothetical polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Phil
Bryant (R) 		Jim
Hood (D) 		Other Undecided
Public Policy Polling[25] July 10–13, 2014 691 ± 3.7% 44% 33% — 22%
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Phil
Bryant (R) 		Brandon
Presley (D) 		Other Undecided
Public Policy Polling[25] July 10–13, 2014 691 ± 3.7% 49% 26% — 25%
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Phil
Bryant (R) 		Valerie
Short (D) 		Other Undecided
Mason-Dixon[26] April 21–23, 2015 625 ± 4% 63% 28% 3%[27] 6%
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Phil
Bryant (R) 		Vicki
Slater (D) 		Other Undecided
Mason-Dixon[28] April 21–23, 2015 625 ± 4% 61% 30% 2%[27] 7%

Results

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CandidatePartyPopular voteElectoral vote
Votes%Votes%
Phil Bryant (incumbent)Republican Party480,39966.248569.67
Robert GrayDemocratic Party234,85832.383730.33
Shawn O'HaraReform Party9,9501.37
Total725,207100.00122100.00
Source: Mississippi Secretary of State

By county

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County[29] Phil Bryant
Republican 		Robert Gray
Democratic 		Shawn O'Hara
Reform 		Margin Total
# % # % # % # %
Adams 3,767 51.06% 3,539 47.97% 71 0.96% 228 3.09% 7,377
Alcorn 8,817 83.34% 1,649 15.59% 113 1.07% 7,168 67.76% 10,579
Amite 3,176 61.96% 1,874 36.56% 76 1.48% 1,302 25.40% 5,126
Attala 3,449 67.96% 1,577 31.07% 49 0.97% 1,872 36.89% 5,075
Benton 1,753 63.40% 958 34.65% 54 1.95% 795 28.75% 2,765
Bolivar 4,255 45.30% 5,040 53.66% 98 1.04% -785 -8.36% 9,393
Calhoun 3,957 76.81% 1,144 22.20% 51 0.99% 2,813 54.60% 5,152
Carroll 2,934 72.25% 1,096 26.99% 31 0.76% 1,838 45.26% 4,061
Chickasaw 3,545 61.76% 2,141 37.30% 54 0.94% 1,404 24.46% 5,740
Choctaw 2,215 78.66% 570 20.24% 31 1.10% 1,645 58.42% 2,816
Claiborne 1,158 33.24% 2,250 64.58% 76 2.18% -1,092 -31.34% 3,484
Clarke 4,253 71.72% 1,595 26.90% 82 1.38% 2,658 44.82% 5,930
Clay 3,601 49.85% 3,547 49.10% 76 1.05% 54 0.75% 7,224
Coahoma 1,867 46.58% 2,095 52.27% 46 1.15% -228 -5.69% 4,008
Copiah 4,088 55.66% 3,162 43.06% 94 1.28% 926 12.61% 7,344
Covington 4,471 70.02% 1,838 28.79% 76 1.19% 2,633 41.24% 6,385
DeSoto 16,837 79.87% 3,904 18.52% 339 1.61% 12,933 61.35% 21,080
Forrest 11,998 69.61% 4,968 28.82% 270 1.57% 7,030 40.79% 17,236
Franklin 2,053 66.46% 996 32.24% 40 1.29% 1,057 34.22% 3,089
George 5,348 87.51% 634 10.37% 129 2.11% 4,714 77.14% 6,111
Greene 3,097 79.78% 697 17.95% 88 2.27% 2,400 61.82% 3,882
Grenada 4,462 65.11% 2,324 33.91% 67 0.98% 2,138 31.20% 6,853
Hancock 6,675 78.64% 1,634 19.25% 179 2.11% 5,041 59.39% 8,488
Harrison 21,548 69.52% 8,709 28.10% 739 2.38% 12,839 41.42% 30,996
Hinds 22,403 39.33% 33,548 58.89% 1,012 1.78% -11,145 -19.57% 56,963
Holmes 1,610 32.45% 3,272 65.95% 79 1.59% -1,662 -33.50% 4,961
Humphreys 1,133 42.71% 1,490 56.16% 30 1.13% -357 -13.46% 2,653
Issaquena 346 61.35% 211 37.41% 7 1.24% 135 23.94% 564
Itawamba 6,053 86.81% 840 12.05% 80 1.15% 5,213 74.76% 6,973
Jackson 18,323 73.83% 6,000 24.18% 494 1.99% 12,323 49.66% 24,817
Jasper 3,644 56.86% 2,654 41.41% 111 1.73% 990 15.45% 6,409
Jefferson 713 26.10% 1,971 72.14% 48 1.76% -1,258 -46.05% 2,732
Jefferson Davis 2,009 49.24% 2,032 49.80% 39 0.96% -23 -0.56% 4,080
Jones 13,960 79.49% 3,356 19.11% 247 1.41% 10,604 60.38% 17,563
Kemper 1,952 51.30% 1,814 47.67% 39 1.02% 138 3.63% 3,805
Lafayette 6,881 62.76% 3,898 35.55% 185 1.69% 2,983 27.21% 10,964
Lamar 11,555 84.63% 1,941 14.22% 158 1.16% 9,614 70.41% 13,654
Lauderdale 12,130 71.38% 4,686 27.58% 177 1.04% 7,444 43.81% 16,993
Lawrence 3,446 69.34% 1,475 29.68% 49 0.99% 1,971 39.66% 4,970
Leake 3,885 64.51% 2,090 34.71% 47 0.78% 1,795 29.81% 6,022
Lee 14,402 74.66% 4,665 24.18% 224 1.16% 9,737 50.47% 19,291
Leflore 3,177 44.61% 3,868 54.31% 77 1.08% -691 -9.70% 7,122
Lincoln 7,984 76.58% 2,362 22.65% 80 0.77% 5,622 53.92% 10,426
Lowndes 10,287 58.53% 7,137 40.61% 151 0.86% 3,150 17.92% 17,575
Madison 18,937 69.41% 8,002 29.33% 345 1.26% 10,935 40.08% 27,284
Marion 5,674 75.56% 1,762 23.47% 73 0.97% 3,912 52.10% 7,509
Marshall 3,412 51.81% 3,105 47.15% 68 1.03% 307 4.66% 6,585
Monroe 7,682 71.57% 2,951 27.49% 101 0.94% 4,731 44.07% 10,734
Montgomery 2,497 63.76% 1,385 35.37% 34 0.87% 1,112 28.40% 3,916
Neshoba 5,968 81.53% 1,291 17.64% 61 0.83% 4,677 63.89% 7,320
Newton 5,175 75.75% 1,584 23.19% 73 1.07% 3,591 52.56% 6,832
Noxubee 1,217 35.21% 2,190 63.37% 49 1.42% -973 -28.15% 3,456
Oktibbeha 6,773 60.23% 4,349 38.67% 123 1.09% 2,424 21.56% 11,245
Panola 6,868 60.64% 4,344 38.36% 113 1.00% 2,524 22.29% 11,325
Pearl River 7,501 81.58% 1,501 16.32% 193 2.10% 6,000 65.25% 9,195
Perry 3,282 81.14% 688 17.01% 75 1.85% 2,594 64.13% 4,045
Pike 6,682 55.89% 5,126 42.88% 147 1.23% 1,556 13.02% 11,955
Pontotoc 7,008 83.33% 1,315 15.64% 87 1.03% 5,693 67.69% 8,410
Prentiss 5,155 79.66% 1,258 19.44% 58 0.90% 3,897 60.22% 6,471
Quitman 1,449 50.56% 1,359 47.42% 58 2.02% 90 3.14% 2,866
Rankin 27,584 81.56% 5,811 17.18% 427 1.26% 21,773 64.38% 33,822
Scott 4,688 65.82% 2,365 33.21% 69 0.97% 2,323 32.62% 7,122
Sharkey 840 50.09% 816 48.66% 21 1.25% 24 1.43% 1,677
Simpson 5,656 72.33% 2,077 26.56% 87 1.11% 3,579 45.77% 7,820
Smith 4,680 81.24% 1,003 17.41% 78 1.35% 3,677 63.83% 5,761
Stone 4,093 77.92% 1,058 20.14% 102 1.94% 3,035 57.78% 5,253
Sunflower 2,771 48.06% 2,903 50.35% 92 1.60% -132 -2.29% 5,766
Tallahatchie 2,114 58.25% 1,459 40.20% 56 1.54% 655 18.05% 3,629
Tate 4,486 73.59% 1,527 25.05% 83 1.36% 2,959 48.54% 6,096
Tippah 5,329 81.87% 1,109 17.04% 71 1.09% 4,220 64.83% 6,509
Tishomingo 5,437 80.92% 1,163 17.31% 119 1.77% 4,274 63.61% 6,719
Tunica 1,201 47.21% 1,281 50.35% 62 2.44% -80 -3.14% 2,544
Union 6,548 85.59% 1,027 13.42% 75 0.98% 5,521 72.17% 7,650
Walthall 3,312 68.18% 1,470 30.26% 76 1.56% 1,842 37.92% 4,858
Warren 7,641 63.79% 4,196 35.03% 141 1.18% 3,445 28.76% 11,978
Washington 4,386 45.46% 5,153 53.41% 109 1.13% -767 -7.95% 9,648
Wayne 4,377 68.33% 1,929 30.11% 100 1.56% 2,448 38.21% 6,406
Webster 2,898 82.63% 582 16.60% 27 0.77% 2,316 66.04% 3,507
Wilkinson 1,311 35.92% 2,255 61.78% 84 2.30% -944 -25.86% 3,650
Winston 4,140 65.14% 2,178 34.27% 38 0.60% 1,962 30.87% 6,356
Yalobusha 2,433 63.66% 1,341 35.09% 48 1.26% 1,092 28.57% 3,822
Yazoo 3,977 59.05% 2,694 40.00% 64 0.95% 1,283 19.05% 6,735
Totals 480,399 66.24% 234,858 32.38% 9,950 1.37% 245,541 33.86% 725,207

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

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By congressional district

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Bryant won three of four congressional districts.[30]

District Bryant Gray Representative
1st 73% 26% Trent Kelly
2nd 49% 50% Bennie Thompson
3rd 69% 30% Gregg Harper
4th 76% 23% Steven Palazzo

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Robertson, Campbell (September 7, 2015). "Chosen by Mississippi Democrats, Shy Trucker is at a Crossroad". The New York Times.
  2. ^ Geoff Pender (January 18, 2015). "Power Rankings: Top Session Issues". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Wagster Pettus, Emily (February 26, 2015). "Bryant to face primary challenge from Mitch Young". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  4. ^ Geoff Pender (July 19, 2014). "Pender: Who's running for what in '15". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  5. ^ Pender, Geoff (February 26, 2015). "McDaniel running for re-election to state Senate". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  6. ^ Alexander Burns (June 24, 2014). "Mississippi's revolution may be just starting". Politico. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  7. ^ Pender, Geoff (February 26, 2015). "Watson running for re-election, not higher office". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  8. ^ "2015 REPUBLICAN PRIMARY". Mississippi Secretary of State. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  9. ^ Nave, R.L. (August 5, 2015). "Robert Gray in (Truck) Driver's Seat to Challenge Gov. Phil Bryant". Jackson Free Press. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  10. ^ Wagster Pettus, Emily (February 27, 2015). "All 8 statewide Mississippi officials challenged in election". The Sun Herald. Archived from the original on March 1, 2015. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  11. ^ a b c Pender, Geoff (February 14, 2015). "Candidates playing chicken with deadline". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  12. ^ Pender, Geoff (February 19, 2015). "Democratic Party announcing Slater for governor". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  13. ^ Abby Livingston (September 25, 2013). "Mississippi Republicans Wait for Cochran's Decision". Roll Call. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  14. ^ Floyd Ingram (July 31, 2013). "Jim Hood to open state office in Houston". Chickasaw Journal. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  15. ^ "AP analysis: Mississippi party leaders preparing strategy for 2015". Gulf Live. August 25, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  16. ^ Wright, Jesse (January 13, 2015). "'Draft Bill' movement not gaining traction with Luckett". Clarksdale Press Register. Archived from the original on January 18, 2015. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  17. ^ Gates, Jimmie E. (December 30, 2014). "Brandon Presley says he isn't running for governor". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  18. ^ "2015 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY". Mississippi Secretary of State. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  19. ^ "2015 Candidate Qualifying List" (PDF). Mississippi Secretary of State. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  20. ^ "2015-16 Governor Race ratings". The Cook Political Report.
  21. ^ "Gubernatorial Ratings | Inside Elections". www.insideelections.com.
  22. ^ "Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball » 2016 Governor". crystalball.centerforpolitics.org.
  23. ^ "Election Outlook: 2016 Race Ratings". Daily Kos. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  24. ^ Mason-Dixon
  25. ^ a b Public Policy Polling
  26. ^ Mason-Dixon Archived May 20, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  27. ^ a b Shawn O'Hara (Reform)
  28. ^ Mason-Dixon Archived May 20, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  29. ^ Hosemann, Delbert (February 14, 2016). "Amended Statewide Certification" (PDF). Secretary of State of Mississippi. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 17, 2025. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  30. ^ "Our Campaigns - MS Governor Race - Nov 03, 2015".
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Campaign websites (archived)

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