(AP) Mississippi voters rejected any change to the state constitution to bolster public school funding, defeating Initiative 42 on Tuesday.
The defeat ended years of work to support a plan to guarantee an “adequate and efficient system of public schools in Mississippi,” as voters sided with Republican leaders who opposed judicial oversight of legislative spending decisions.
The state constitution does not allow for court appeals on legislative spending decisions. Since Mississippi’s current school funding formula was adopted, lawmakers have allotted the full amount it demands in only two election years. This year’s budget is $200 million short, adding to a shortfall that totals $1.7 billion since 2008.
Backers of the initiative spent more money than had ever been spent on a referendum in Mississippi before, raising more than $3 million. Those contributions were channeled through out-of-state charities, but ultimately most of the money came from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, former Secretary of State Dick Molpus and former FedEx executive Jim Barksdale.
Opponents raised only $300,000 through October. But the party and GOP officials including Reeves, Gov. Phil Bryant and House Speaker Philip Gunn lined up against the initiative, saying it could give a judge control over much of the state budget.
Hood holds on to AG seat
Democrat Jim Hood has won a fourth term as Mississippi attorney general.
The 53-year-old Hood is one of the few Democrats still holding statewide elected office in the South.
He is engaged in a legal fight with Google, questioning whether the Internet search engine improperly helps people find pirated music and drugs without a prescription. The California-based company says Hood is infringing on its free-speech rights.
Hurst says Hood has failed to challenge President Barack Obama on immigration and has fallen short in prosecuting public corruption.
Bryant wins 2nd term as governor
Republican Phil Bryant has won a second term as Mississippi governor, easily defeating two candidates who ran low-budget campaigns.
Democrat Robert Gray is a long-haul truck driver who spent just over $3,000 to run for Mississippi’s top job.
The Reform Party’s Shawn O’Hara, who has unsuccessfully sought several statewide offices the past 20 years, spent about $300 to challenge Bryant.
The 60-year-old governor spent about $2.7 million. He campaigned by saying he has focused on creating jobs and making specific changes to education policy, such as creating charter schools and emphasizing reading skills in early grades.
Fitch remains treasurer
Fitch on Tuesday defeated the Reform Party’s Viola V. McFarland. No Democrat was in the race.
Fitch survived a tough challenge in the Republican primary in August from David McRae, an attorney who criticized her management of a state-sponsored college savings plan. Fitch says she has been a good steward of public finances.
Delbert Hosemann re-elected
Republican Delbert Hosemann has won a third term as Mississippi secretary of
As Mississippi’s top elections official, Hosemann has worked in recent years to implement a law that requires voters to show government-issued photo identification at the polls.
Hyde-Smith re-elected as ag commissioner
She defeated Democrat Addie Lee Green and the Reform Party’s Cathy L. Toole.
Hyde-Smith is a former state senator from Brookhaven and has worked in the cattle business.
Pickering gets third term
Republican Stacey Pickering has won a third term as Mississippi state auditor.
He defeated Democrat Jocelyn “Joce” Pepper Pritchett and the Reform Party’s Lajena Walley.
Pickering is a former state senator from Jones County.
Pritchett owns a civil-engineering firm and was making her first run for public office.
Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves gets 2nd term
The 41-year-old defeated three challengers Tuesday, including Democrat Tim Johnson, a former Republican state senator who switched parties before this year’s election.
The other candidates were Libertarian Ron Williams and the Reform Party’s Rosa B. Williams.
Johnson criticizes Reeves for opposing Medicaid expansion, and he says Republicans had failed to fully fund public schools.
Reeves says education is receiving more money than ever and the state can’t afford to put more people on Medicaid. He also says that as presiding officer of the state Senate, he has helped Mississippi create a business-friendly atmosphere.
House minority leader loses to Republican
House Minority Leader Bobby Moak has lost his Mississippi legislative race to Republican challenger Vince Mangold of Brookhaven.
Moak said in a statement Tuesday that he “didn’t see a win” in House District 53, which spans parts of southwest Mississippi.
Gov. Phil Bryant and other Republicans had helped Mangold raise money in an attempt to claim a high-profile victory against Moak, the leader among Democrats in the House.
The House GOP majority appears secure, but Republicans haven’t yet won enough seats to claim a 60 percent supermajority, which would eliminate Democrats ability to block taxing and spending decisions.
One Republican House member, first-term incumbent Brad Mayo of Oxford, lost to Democrat Jay Hughes.
Britton to represent southern district on PSC
Britton on Tuesday beat Hattiesburg oilman Tom Blanton and Reform Party member Lonny Kenneth Spence, both of Hattiesburg.
The 58-year-old Britton touted his financial credentials and experience, saying he would work to hold down how much Mississippi Power Co. customers will have to pay for the $6.4 billion power plant the company is building in Kemper County. However, Britton doesn’t take as oppositional a stance against the company as Blanton, who sued multiple times, sparking the Supreme Court to order refunds.
Britton replaces Steve Renfroe of Moss Point, who doesn’t publicly identify with a party. Renfroe chose not to seek election after Gov. Phil Bryant appointed him to serve a partial term.
Tagert wins transportation commission seat
Mike Tagert, a Starkville Republican, has won his second full term on Mississippi’s Transportation Commission.
The 45-year-old beat Democrat Danny Woods, a Winona mortician.
Tagert, formerly administrator of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority, lost a special election bid for Congress earlier this year. He says the Transportation Department needs more money to maintain the roads and bridges it has built. He says he wants to develop a better plan for the future.
Woods, who ran unsuccessfully for Montgomery County Coroner as a Democrat in 2011, said he wanted the state to do more to beautify its highways. He questioned whether the state needed more money when lawmakers were borrowing money to build an aquarium in Gulfport.
Presley gets 3rd term on PSC
Democrat Brandon Presley of Nettleton has won election to a third term on the Mississippi Public Service Commission.
Presley beat Republican Mike Maynard of Tupelo.
The 38-year-old Presley has maintained a populist stance on the three-member utility regulatory body. He’s been a consistent opponent of the $6.4 billion power plant that Mississippi Power Co. is building in Kemper County. Presley has also sought to stretch the commission’s regulatory authority to electrical cooperatives.
Presley will be the only returning incumbent on the commission. Republican Lynn Posey of Union Church didn’t seek re-election. Steve Renfroe of Moss Point, who doesn’t publicly identify with a party, did not choose to seek election after being appointed to fill out a partial term by Gov. Phil Bryant.
King re-elected to transportation commission
Republican Tom King of Hattiesburg has won a second term on Mississippi’s Transportation Commission.
The 68-year-old King was beating Democrat Chad Toney of Smithdale and Reform Party member Sheranda Atkinson of New Augusta.
King, who served 19 years in the Legislature, is a former historic restoration consultant. King favors more funding for the agency and said he wants to work with the business community and lawmakers to find it.
Toney sought election saying he wanted to increase construction quality of roads and bridges to make them last longer, saying better work would remove the need for more money. He ran unsuccessfully for the same post in 2007.
VOTE TOTALS
Mississippi general election results will be updated as they are released:
Governor
1,717 of 1,811 precincts – 95 percent
x-Phil Bryant, GOP (i) 434,966 – 66 percent
Robert Gray, Dem 212,397 – 32 percent
Shawn O’Hara, RP 8,875 – 1 percent
Lieutenant Governor
1,717 of 1,811 precincts – 95 percent
x-Tate Reeves, GOP (i) 392,180 – 60 percent
Tim Johnson, Dem 235,007 – 36 percent
Ron Williams, Lib 14,477 – 2 percent
Rosa Williams, RP 8,632 – 1 percent
Secretary of State
1,717 of 1,811 precincts – 95 percent
x-Delbert Hosemann, GOP (i) 397,095 – 61 percent
Charles Graham, Dem 231,635 – 36 percent
Randy Walker, RP 19,325 – 3 percent
Attorney General
1,717 of 1,811 precincts – 95 percent
x-Jim Hood, Dem (i) 364,307 – 56 percent
Mike Hurst, GOP 286,921 – 44 percent
Auditor
1,717 of 1,811 precincts – 95 percent
x-Stacey Pickering, GOP (i) 389,526 – 63 percent
Jocelyn Pritchett, Dem 224,396 – 36 percent
Lajena Walley, RP 8,367 – 1 percent
Treasurer
1,717 of 1,811 precincts – 95 percent
x-Lynn Fitch, GOP (i) 466,415 – 79 percent
Viola McFarland, RP 122,310 – 21 percent
Agriculture Commissioner
1,717 of 1,811 precincts – 95 percent
x-Cindy Hyde-Smith, GOP (i) 388,147 – 61 percent
Addie Green, Dem 238,543 – 37 percent
Cathy Toole, RP 13,314 – 2 percent
Amendment Education Funding
1,741 of 1,811 precincts – 96 percent
x-Against, 331,875 – 52 percent
Approval, 306,407 – 48 percent
Amendment Education Funding Alternative
1,741 of 1,811 precincts – 96 percent
42, Oth 298,276 – 59 percent
42A, Oth 210,161 – 41 percent
Senate District 3
52 of 52 precincts – 100 percent
x-Nickey Browning, GOP (i) 12,117 – 77 percent
Christopher Stark, Dem 3,603 – 23 percent
Senate District 4
41 of 41 precincts – 100 percent
x-Rita Parks, GOP (i) 10,360 – 60 percent
Eric Powell, Dem 6,842 – 40 percent
Senate District 7
37 of 37 precincts – 100 percent
x-Hob Bryan, Dem (i) 8,284 – 59 percent
Barry Strevel, GOP 5,802 – 41 percent
Senate District 9
27 of 27 precincts – 100 percent
x-Gray Tollison, GOP (i) 8,915 – 60 percent
Cristen Hemmins, Dem 5,836 – 40 percent
Senate District 14
65 of 66 precincts – 98 percent
x-Lydia Chassaniol, GOP (i) 9,269 – 54 percent
Georgio Proctor, Dem 4,145 – 24 percent
Donny Ryals, Ind 3,797 – 22 percent
Senate District 15
51 of 51 precincts – 100 percent
x-Gary Jackson, GOP (i) 8,205 – 61 percent
Cecil Simmons, Dem 5,283 – 39 percent
Senate District 22
54 of 54 precincts – 100 percent
x-Eugene Clarke, GOP (i) 7,902 – 55 percent
Joseph Thomas, Dem 6,583 – 45 percent
Senate District 27
31 of 32 precincts – 97 percent
x-Hillman Frazier, Dem (i) 9,508 – 75 percent
Ponto Downing, GOP 3,107 – 25 percent
Senate District 29
24 of 25 precincts – 96 percent
x-David Blount, Dem (i) 10,891 – 79 percent
James Broadwater, GOP 2,904 – 21 percent
Senate District 32
39 of 39 precincts – 100 percent
x-Sampson Jackson, Dem (i) 8,706 – 67 percent
Don Wiggins, GOP 4,365 – 33 percent
Senate District 33
47 of 47 precincts – 100 percent
x-Videt Carmichael, GOP (i) 11,403 – 75 percent
Chase Callahan, Dem 3,788 – 25 percent
Senate District 37
57 of 57 precincts – 100 percent
Melanie Sojourner, GOP (i) 8,038 – 50 percent
Bob Dearing, Dem 7,957 – 50 percent
Senate District 38
54 of 54 precincts – 100 percent
x-Tammy Witherspoon, Dem 9,987 – 60 percent
Dennis Quinn, GOP 3,487 – 21 percent
Bente Johnson, Ind 3,104 – 19 percent
Senate District 39
74 of 74 precincts – 100 percent
x-Sally Doty, GOP (i) 10,687 – 64 percent
Michael Smith, Dem 6,109 – 36 percent
Senate District 41
40 of 61 precincts – 66 percent
x-Joey Fillingane, GOP (i) 8,833 – 64 percent
Reggie Blackledge, Dem 4,988 – 36 percent
Senate District 42
29 of 29 precincts – 100 percent
x-Chris McDaniel, GOP (i) 12,489 – 86 percent
Johnny Henry, Dem 2,065 – 14 percent
Senate District 43
57 of 57 precincts – 100 percent
x-Dennis DeBar, GOP 12,019 – 76 percent
Towana Wright, Dem 3,826 – 24 percent
Senate District 45
40 of 40 precincts – 100 percent
x-Billy Hudson, GOP (i) 11,126 – 87 percent
Eli Jackson, RP 1,701 – 13 percent
Senate District 47
23 of 34 precincts – 68 percent
x-Joseph Seymour, GOP 5,607 – 79 percent
Jimmy Alawine, Dem 1,465 – 21 percent
Senate District 48
21 of 21 precincts – 100 percent
x-Deborah Dawkins, Dem (i) 4,963 – 53 percent
Walter Crapps, GOP 4,337 – 47 percent
Senate District 51
20 of 20 precincts – 100 percent
x-Michael Watson, GOP (i) 8,366 – 83 percent
Boyd Kendall, Lib 1,704 – 17 percent
House District 1
15 of 15 precincts – 100 percent
x-Lester Carpenter, GOP (i) 5,139 – 67 percent
Lisa Wigginton, Dem 2,581 – 33 percent
House District 2
13 of 13 precincts – 100 percent
x-Nick Bain, Dem (i) 4,732 – 76 percent
Billy Miller, GOP 1,512 – 24 percent
House District 3
17 of 17 precincts – 100 percent
x-William Arnold, GOP (i) 3,734 – 58 percent
Lauren Childers, Dem 2,754 – 42 percent
House District 9
30 of 30 precincts – 100 percent
x-Cedric Burnett, Dem 4,369 – 70 percent
Christopher Thomas, GOP 1,856 – 30 percent
House District 10
23 of 23 precincts – 100 percent
x-Nolan Mettetal, GOP (i) 6,113 – 76 percent
Ken Daugherty, Ind 1,934 – 24 percent
House District 12
5 of 5 precincts – 100 percent
x-J.P. Hughes, Dem 2,439 – 55 percent
Brad Mayo, GOP (i) 1,983 – 45 percent
House District 13
22 of 22 precincts – 100 percent
x-Steve Massengill, GOP (i) 4,408 – 59 percent
Justin Cluck, Dem 3,095 – 41 percent
House District 17
8 of 8 precincts – 100 percent
x-Shane Aguirre, GOP 4,354 – 76 percent
Charles Penson, Dem 1,376 – 24 percent
House District 19
23 of 23 precincts – 100 percent
x-Randy Boyd, GOP (i) 4,921 – 62 percent
Clint Gannon, Dem 2,953 – 38 percent
House District 20
18 of 18 precincts – 100 percent
x-Chris Brown, GOP (i) 4,505 – 64 percent
William Miller, Dem 2,487 – 36 percent
House District 21
27 of 27 precincts – 100 percent
x-Donnie Bell, GOP (i) 4,000 – 60 percent
Aaron Loden, Dem 2,672 – 40 percent
House District 25
8 of 8 precincts – 100 percent
x-Dan Eubanks, GOP 2,233 – 74 percent
Harold Harris, Dem 798 – 26 percent
House District 27
23 of 23 precincts – 100 percent
x-Kenneth Walker, Dem 4,106 – 72 percent
Ricky Gill, GOP 1,596 – 28 percent
House District 33
28 of 28 precincts – 100 percent
x-Thomas Reynolds, Dem (i) 5,527 – 77 percent
Jerrerico Chambers, GOP 1,681 – 23 percent
House District 35
36 of 36 precincts – 100 percent
x-Joey Hood, GOP (i) 4,383 – 57 percent
Patrick Warner, Dem 3,273 – 43 percent
House District 39
10 of 10 precincts – 100 percent
x-Jeffrey Smith, GOP (i) 4,864 – 75 percent
James Samuel, Dem 1,628 – 25 percent
House District 40
6 of 6 precincts – 100 percent
x-Ashley Henley, GOP 1,164 – 68 percent
Hester Jackson-McCray, Dem 543 – 32 percent
House District 42
17 of 17 precincts – 100 percent
x-Carl Mickens, Dem 5,414 – 77 percent
Dorothy Hines, Ind 1,628 – 23 percent
House District 43
15 of 15 precincts – 100 percent
x-Loyd Roberson, GOP 3,192 – 64 percent
Paul Millsaps, Dem 1,807 – 36 percent
House District 46
32 of 33 precincts – 97 percent
x-Karl Oliver, GOP 4,539 – 60 percent
Ken Strachan, Dem 3,041 – 40 percent
House District 48
33 of 33 precincts – 100 percent
x-Jason White, GOP (i) 4,286 – 69 percent
Jill Butler, Dem 1,894 – 31 percent
House District 53
31 of 32 precincts – 97 percent
x-Vince Mangold, GOP 4,153 – 56 percent
Bobby Moak, Dem (i) 3,253 – 44 percent
House District 62
12 of 12 precincts – 100 percent
Tom Weathersby, GOP (i) 4,551 – 80 percent
Stephen Wilson, Dem 1,144 – 20 percent
House District 70
17 of 18 precincts – 94 percent
x-Kathy Sykes, Dem 4,221 – 85 percent
James Perry, GOP 740 – 15 percent
House District 75
18 of 18 precincts – 100 percent
x-Tom Miles, Dem (i) 3,814 – 64 percent
Vance Cox, GOP 2,179 – 36 percent
House District 78
12 of 23 precincts – 52 percent
Randal Rushing, GOP (i) 2,680 – 65 percent
Wallace Pogue, Dem 1,426 – 35 percent
House District 79
14 of 28 precincts – 50 percent
Blaine Eaton, Dem (i) 2,194 – 55 percent
Mark Tullos, GOP 1,830 – 45 percent
House District 83
10 of 13 precincts – 77 percent
Greg Snowden, GOP (i) 3,165 – 82 percent
William Compton, Dem 676 – 18 percent
House District 86
15 of 25 precincts – 60 percent
Shane Barnett, GOP 1,531 – 50 percent
Sherra Lane, Dem (i) 1,507 – 50 percent
House District 87
4 of 16 precincts – 25 percent
Chris Johnson, GOP 1,910 – 83 percent
Paul . Johnson, Ind 391 – 17 percent
House District 90
23 of 29 precincts – 79 percent
Noah Sanford, GOP 3,759 – 55 percent
John Pope, Dem 3,104 – 45 percent
House District 91
25 of 45 precincts – 56 percent
Bob Evans, Dem (i) 2,761 – 61 percent
Charles Bufkin, GOP 1,751 – 39 percent
House District 93
7 of 20 precincts – 35 percent
Timmy Ladner, GOP (i) 1,450 – 78 percent
Billy Joe Ladner, Dem 420 – 22 percent
House District 97
23 of 31 precincts – 74 percent
Sam Mims, GOP (i) 3,190 – 65 percent
Kitty Sasser, Dem 1,743 – 35 percent
House District 102
5 of 15 precincts – 33 percent
Toby Barker, GOP (i) 2,030 – 76 percent
Taylor Brinkley, Dem 640 – 24 percent
House District 105
0 of 29 precincts – 0 percent
Dennis Cochran, Dem 0 – 0 percent
Roun McNeal, GOP 0 – 0 percent
House District 107
20 of 29 precincts – 69 percent
Doug McLeod, GOP (i) 4,108 – 76 percent
Austin Howell, Dem 1,293 – 24 percent
House District 108
2 of 13 precincts – 15 percent
Mark Formby, GOP (i) 2,095 – 89 percent
Guy Leavern, Dem 265 – 11 percent
House District 109
8 of 12 precincts – 67 percent
Manly Barton, GOP (i) 1,706 – 90 percent
Joshua Hardy, Lib 198 – 10 percent
House District 111
3 of 11 precincts – 27 percent
Charles Busby, GOP (i) 2,484 – 78 percent
Kay Sims, Dem 691 – 22 percent
House District 121
9 of 9 precincts – 100 percent
x-Carolyn Crawford, GOP (i) 3,273 – 67 percent
Brian Pearse, Dem 1,612 – 33 percent
House District 122
15 of 15 precincts – 100 percent
David Baria, Dem (i) 2,280 – 50 percent
Mickey Lagasse, GOP 2,235 – 50 percent
Public Service Comm Central
551 of 553 precincts – 99 percent
x-Cecil Brown, Dem 119,414 – 53 percent
Brent Bailey, GOP 103,261 – 46 percent
LaTrice Notree, RP 2,602 – 1 percent
Public Service Comm Southern
609 of 641 precincts – 95 percent
Tom Blanton, Dem 78,035 – 37 percent
x-Sam Britton, GOP 131,238 – 61 percent
Lonny Spence, RP 4,315 – 2 percent
Public Service Comm Northern
616 of 617 precincts – 99 percent
x-Brandon Presley, Dem (i) 142,818 – 60 percent
Mike Maynard, GOP 93,637 – 40 percent
Transportation Comm Central
551 of 553 precincts – 99 percent
Mary Coleman, Dem 102,034 – 45 percent
x-Dick Hall, GOP (i) 124,657 – 55 percent
Transportation Comm Southern
609 of 641 precincts – 95 percent
Chad Toney, Dem 68,329 – 32 percent
x-Tom King, GOP (i) 137,448 – 65 percent
Sheranda Atkinson, RP 5,265 – 2 percent
Transportation Comm Northern
616 of 617 precincts – 99 percent
Danny Woods, Dem 82,620 – 35 percent
x-Mike Tagert, GOP (i) 152,402 – 65 percent