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Mississippi State Senate

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Mississippi State Senate
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General Information
Party control:   Republican
Session start:   January 7, 2025
Session end:   April 3, 2025
Term length:   4 years
Term limits:   None
Redistricting:  Legislature-dominant
Salary:   $23,500/year + per diem
Members
Total:  52
Democrats:  14
Republicans:  36
Other:  0
Vacancies:  2
Leadership
President:   Delbert Hosemann (R)
Elections
Last election:  November 7, 2023
Next election:  November 2, 2027

The Mississippi State Senate is the upper chamber of the Mississippi State Legislature. Alongside the Mississippi House of Representatives, it forms the legislative branch of the Mississippi state government and works alongside the governor of Mississippi to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Mississippi State Senate include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.

The Mississippi State Senate meets in the state capitol building in Jackson, Mississippi.

  • All 52 seats in the Mississippi State Senate are up for election in 2027.
  • In the 2023 elections, Republicans retained their 36-16 majority. Click to read more »
  • Mississippi has a Republican trifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.

    • This page contains the following information on the Mississippi State Senate.

    Party control

    Current partisan control

    The table below shows the partisan breakdown of the Mississippi State Senate as of September 2025:

    Party As of September 2025
         Democratic Party 14
         Republican Party 36
         Other 0
         Vacancies 2
    Total 52

    Members

    Leadership

    The lieutenant governor of Mississippi acts as president of the 52-member Senate and is given the right to cast a vote in the case of a tie. There are no majority or minority leaders in the Senate.[1]

    Leadership and members


    Office Name Party Date assumed office
    Mississippi State Senate District 1 Michael McLendon Republican January 7, 2020
    Mississippi State Senate District 2 David L. Parker Republican December 11, 2012
    Mississippi State Senate District 3 Kathy Chism Republican January 7, 2020
    Mississippi State Senate District 4 Rita Potts Parks Republican 2012
    Mississippi State Senate District 5 Daniel Sparks Republican January 7, 2020
    Mississippi State Senate District 6 Chad McMahan Republican January 5, 2016
    Mississippi State Senate District 7 Hob Bryan Democratic 1984
    Mississippi State Senate District 8 Benjamin Suber Republican January 7, 2020
    Mississippi State Senate District 9 Nicole Boyd Republican January 7, 2020
    Mississippi State Senate District 10 Neil Whaley Republican December 11, 2017
    Mississippi State Senate District 11 Reginald Jackson Democratic January 2, 2024
    Mississippi State Senate District 12 Derrick Simmons Democratic 2011
    Mississippi State Senate District 13 Sarita Simmons Democratic January 7, 2020
    Mississippi State Senate District 14 Lydia Graves Chassaniol Republican 2008
    Mississippi State Senate District 15 Bart Williams Republican October 28, 2020
    Mississippi State Senate District 16 Angela Turner-Ford Democratic January 23, 2013
    Mississippi State Senate District 17 Charles Younger Republican 2014
    Mississippi State Senate District 18 Lane Taylor Republican April 29, 2025
    Mississippi State Senate District 19 Kevin Blackwell Republican January 5, 2016
    Mississippi State Senate District 20 Josh Harkins Republican 2012
    Mississippi State Senate District 21 Bradford Blackmon Democratic January 2, 2024
    Mississippi State Senate District 22 Joseph Thomas Democratic January 7, 2020
    Mississippi State Senate District 23 Briggs Hopson Republican 2008
    Mississippi State Senate District 24 Vacant
    Mississippi State Senate District 25 Walter Michel Republican March 21, 2016
    Mississippi State Senate District 26 Vacant
    Mississippi State Senate District 27 Hillman Frazier Democratic 1993
    Mississippi State Senate District 28 Sollie B. Norwood Democratic March 4, 2013
    Mississippi State Senate District 29 David Blount Democratic 2008
    Mississippi State Senate District 30 Dean Kirby Republican 1992
    Mississippi State Senate District 31 Tyler McCaughn Republican January 7, 2020
    Mississippi State Senate District 32 Rod Hickman Democratic December 8, 2021
    Mississippi State Senate District 33 Jeff Tate Republican January 7, 2020
    Mississippi State Senate District 34 Juan Barnett Democratic January 5, 2016
    Mississippi State Senate District 35 Andy Berry Republican January 2, 2024
    Mississippi State Senate District 36 Brian Rhodes Republican January 2, 2024
    Mississippi State Senate District 37 Albert Butler Democratic January 2, 2024
    Mississippi State Senate District 38 Gary Brumfield Democratic January 2, 2024
    Mississippi State Senate District 39 Jason Barrett Republican October 28, 2020
    Mississippi State Senate District 40 Angela Burks Hill Republican 2012
    Mississippi State Senate District 41 Joey Fillingane Republican 2008
    Mississippi State Senate District 42 Robin Robinson Republican January 2, 2024
    Mississippi State Senate District 43 Dennis DeBar Republican January 5, 2016
    Mississippi State Senate District 44 John Polk Republican 2012
    Mississippi State Senate District 45 Chris Johnson Republican January 7, 2020
    Mississippi State Senate District 46 Philman Ladner Republican January 2, 2024
    Mississippi State Senate District 47 Joseph Seymour Republican January 5, 2016
    Mississippi State Senate District 48 Mike Thompson Republican January 7, 2020
    Mississippi State Senate District 49 Joel Carter Republican 2018
    Mississippi State Senate District 50 Scott DeLano Republican January 7, 2020
    Mississippi State Senate District 51 Jeremy England Republican January 7, 2020
    Mississippi State Senate District 52 Brice Wiggins Republican 2012


    Salaries

    See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
    State legislative salaries, 2024[2]
    SalaryPer diem
    $23,500/yearFor senators: $166/day. For representatives: $157/day.

    Swearing in dates

    See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

    Mississippi legislators assume office the first day of the regular session of the year following election. The constitution requires the legislature to convene yearly on the Tuesday after the first Monday in January.[3]

    Membership qualifications

    See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

    Section 42 of Article 4 of the Mississippi Constitution states, "No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained the age of twenty-five years, who shall not have been a qualified elector of the State four years, and who shall not be an actual resident of the district or territory he may be chosen to represent for two years before his election."[4]


    Historical party control

    Republicans won control of the Mississippi State Senate in 2011. In 2023, they won a 36-16 majority.

    The table below shows the partisan history of the Mississippi Senate following every general election from 1991 to 2023. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

    Mississippi State Senate election results: 1991-2023

    Party 91 95 99 03 07[5] 11 15 19 23
    Democrats 39 34 34 27 28 21 20 16 16
    Republicans 13 18 18 24 24 31 32 36 36
    Other 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

    See also

    Elections Mississippi State Government State Legislatures State Politics
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    External links

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Mississippi Legislature, "Mississippi State Senate," accessed February 16, 2021
    2. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
    3. ↑ Mississippi Secretary of State, "Mississippi Constitution Article 4, Section 36," accessed February 2, 2023
    4. ↑ Mississippi Constitution, "Article 4, Section 42," accessed May 22, 2025
    5. ↑ Republicans gained a majority in 2007 when two Democratic state senators switched their party affiliation. Democrats regained the majority as a result of the 2007 elections.
    6. ↑ Republicans gained a majority in 2007 when two Democratic state senators switched their party affiliation. Democrats regained the majority as a result of the 2007 elections.
    7. ↑ The Thicket, "Why do four states have odd-year elections?" August 25, 2011
    8. ↑ Mississippi Secretary of State, "2015 Elections Calendar," accessed December 2, 2014
    9. ↑ Associated Press, "Sojourner challenges Mississippi Senate loss to Dearing," December 4, 2015
    10. ↑ Daily Journal, "Dearing seated as Legislature inches closer to taking up bills," January 19, 2016
    11. ↑ Follow the Money, "Mississippi 2011 - Candidates," accessed July 29, 2014
    12. ↑ Follow the Money, "Mississippi 2007 - Candidates," accessed July 29, 2014
    13. ↑ Follow the Money, "Mississippi 2003 - Candidates," accessed July 29, 2014
    14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Justia US Law, "2020 Mississippi Code," accessed February 6, 2023 (Statute 23-15-851)
    15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 All About Redistricting, "Mississippi," accessed May 4, 2015
    16. ↑ Magnolia Tribune, "Appeal to U.S. Supreme Court coming to address “very narrow, legal issue” in court-ordered legislative redistricting," July 3, 2025
    17. ↑ Associated Press, "Mississippi can wait to reset legislative districts that dilute Black voting strength, judges say," July 18, 2024
    18. ↑ Associated Press, "New Mississippi legislative maps head to court for approval despite DeSoto lawmakers’ objections," March 6, 2025
    19. ↑ DeSoto Times-Tribune, "Judges order new redistricting map for DeSoto," April 16, 2025
    20. ↑ Mississippi Today, "Federal court approves Mississippi legislative redistricting. Special elections will proceed," May 9, 2025
    21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Jackson Free Press, "Mississippi House and Senate OK Each Other's Redistricting," April 1, 2022
    22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Jackson Free Press, "Mississippi House, Senate Pass Separate Redistricting Plans," March 30, 2022
    23. ↑ ‘’Mississippi legislature’’, “Joint Resolution 202-History of Actions, 03/29 (S) Adopted," accessed April 7, 2022
    24. ↑ ‘’Mississippi legislature’’, “Joint Resolution 202-History of Actions, 03/31 (H) Adopted," accessed April 7, 2022
    25. ↑ ‘’Mississippi legislature’’, “Joint Resolution 1-History of Actions, 03/29 (H) Adopted As Amended," accessed April 7, 2022
    26. ↑ ‘’Mississippi legislature’’, “Joint Resolution 1-History of Actions, 03/31 (S) Adopted," accessed April 7, 2022
    27. ↑ The Associated Press, "Mississippi House adopts Senate redistricting plan," May 3, 2012
    28. ↑ Gulf Live, "Justice Department approves Mississippi Senate, House redistricting maps (updated)," September 14, 2012
    29. ↑ Clarion Ledger, "Mississippi lawmakers to halt legislative session over coronavirus," March 17, 2020
    30. ↑ Clarion Ledger, "Mississippi Legislature will not come back April 1, as coronavirus spreads," March 26, 2020
    31. ↑ Clarion Ledger, "Amid coronavirus pandemic, Mississippi Legislature will reconvene on May 18," April 27, 2020
    32. ↑ WLOX, "Mississippi Legislature to reconvene Thursday," May 5, 2020
    33. ↑ The Associated Press, "Mississippi lawmakers pass aid for tire plant, shipyard," accessed February 16, 2021
    34. ↑ Mississippi Watchdog, "Plenty of issues for Mississippi Legislature to tackle in 2015," January 2, 2015
    35. ↑ StateScape, "Session Schedules," accessed July 29, 2014
    36. ↑ WDAM, "Mississippi legislature begins 2014 session," January 7, 2014
    37. ↑ GulfLive.com, "13 things to watch in the 2014 Mississippi Legislature," January 3, 2014
    38. ↑ StateScape, "Session Schedules," accessed February 16, 2021
    39. ↑ Gulf Live, "AP analysis: 2013 Mississippi Legislative session mixes substance, silliness," April 6, 2013
    40. ↑ StateScape, "Session Schedules," accessed February 16, 2021 (Archived)
    41. ↑ Mississippi State Legislature, "2011 Daily Action Reports," accessed February 16, 2021
    42. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislative Session Calendar," accessed February 16, 2021 (Archived)
    43. ↑ Find Law, "Tenth Amendment - U.S. Constitution," accessed February 16, 2021
    44. ↑ Mississippi Secretary of State, "Mississippi Constitution," accessed February 16, 2021
    45. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "The Veto Process," accessed June 22, 2017
    46. ↑ Mississippi First, "Governor Bryant Vetoes SB 2161," April 24, 2015
    47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 47.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
    48. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Separation of Powers: Executive Veto Powers," accessed January 26, 2024
    49. ↑ Mississippi Supreme Court, "In Re Initiative Measure No. 65: Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler V Michael Watson, in His Official Capacity as Secretary of State for the State of Mississippi," May 14, 2021
    50. ↑ Mississippi Supreme Court, "In Re Initiative Measure No. 65: Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler V Michael Watson, in His Official Capacity as Secretary of State for the State of Mississippi," May 14, 2021
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