Mississippi has a bicameral legislature. The Legislature is composed of the lower Mississippi House of Representatives, with 122 members, and the upper Mississippi State Senate, with 52 members. Both representatives and senators serve four-year terms without term limits.

The Legislature convenes at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson every year. Session begins on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January. Legislators meet for 90 days each year (January through March), except for the first year in a new term, during which they meet for 125 days (January through May).

Legislators are paid an annual salary of $23,500, and also receive a per diem of $151/day when the legislature is in session. Travel to and from the legislators’ home districts to the capitol is reimbursed at $0.56/mile.

Primary Election: Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Run Off Election: 2-3 weeks after the primary. A runoff is required between the top two candidates unless one candidate gets a majority.

General Election: Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Find your district.

State Senate:

- A qualified elector (registered voter) of the state four (4) years,

- At least 25 years old, and

- An actual resident of the district or territory represented for two (2) years before the election.

State House of Representatives:

- A resident citizen of the state four (4) years,

- A qualified elector (registered voter) of the state four (4) years,

- At least 21 years old, and

- A resident of the district represented for two (2) years before the election.

All Offices:

Never have been convicted of bribery, perjury or other infamous crime, being defined as a crime punishable by a minimum of one year confinement in the state penitentiary, unless pardoned for the offense.

Never have been convicted of a felony in a court of this state or, of a felony in a federal court, or of a crime in the court of another state which is a felony under the laws of [the] state, on or after December 8, 1992; excluding, however, a conviction of manslaughter or a violation of the United States Internal Revenue Code or any violation of the tax laws of [the] state, unless the offense also involved the misuse or abuse of an office or money coming into a candidate’s hands by virtue of an office.

Filing Period: January 3rs – February 1st at 5pm*

*Note: If filing by mail, application must be received by the deadline (not post-marked).

If running as a member of a political party:

- Submit a Statement of Intent to your preferred state party

- Pay $250 filing fee to state party

If running as an independent candidate:

- Submit a Statement of Intent to Secretary of State

- Submit a Petition with at least 50 signatures

- Signatures must be verified by the appropriate county clerk in the county in which signatures were collected before being submitted to the Mississippi Secretary of State for final approval.

- Independent candidates should budget sufficient time to ensure the certification of petition signatures by the respective Circuit Clerk’s Office well in advance of the qualifying deadline.

- Pay $250 filing fee to Secretary of State

All candidates must also:

- Establish a campaign committee and file a Statement of Organization no later than 48-hours after receiving $200.00 in contributions or making $200 in expenditures.

- You’ll be required to appoint a director and a treasurer, who will be responsible for filing campaign finance reports.

- File required Campaign Finance Disclosure Reports filed with the Secretary of State’s Office by 5:00 p.m. on the date of the applicable deadline(s).

Note: If you fail to file campaign finance reports, you are prohibited from taking office, even if you win your campaign.

- File a Statement of Economic Interest filed electronically with the Mississippi Ethics Commission within fifteen (15) days of qualifying for office.

In addition, you’ll need to:

- Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN), also known as a federal tax identification number. You’ll need this to open a bank account.

Note: Under “What type of legal structure is applying for an EIN?” select “View Additional Types” and then select “Political Organization.”

- Set up a bank account. It is illegal to deposit campaign contributions into a personal account. It’s recommended that you call in advance to learn what the bank requires to set up an account for a political campaign, but likely your EIN as well as your Qualifying Statement and Statement of Organization.

Mississippi Ethics Commission

Resources:

Mississippi Secretary of State

Candidate Qualifying Guide (2023)

Qualifying Candidate Forms

Campaign Finance Guide (2023)

Mississippi Ethics Commission

Mississippi Republican Party

Mississippi Democratic Party