# Andy Stepp

Andrew Earl Stepp (June 23, 1958 – December 5, 2024) was an American politician who represented the 23rd district in the Mississippi House of Representatives from January to December 2024, when he died in office. He was elected in 2023. He was a member of the Republican Party.

## Early life

Born in Memphis, Tennessee, and a graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, Stepp was a pharmacist in Bruce, Mississippi, where he owned the Stepp-Saver Pharmacy. He also served as a clinical instructor in pharmacy practice at the University of Mississippi.

## Political career

Following the resignation of Charles Beckett from representing the 23rd district in the Mississippi House of Representatives on September 22, 2022, to become the executive director of the Mississippi Public Utilities Staff, Stepp ran in the special election to replace him. He faced Perry Van Bailey and Andy Clark, both farmers from Calhoun County. The election was held on January 10. Andy Stepp received 48.49% of the votes, but as no candidate received 50%, continued to a runoff against Bailey, who had received 38.05%. The runoff was held on January 31. The results were extremely close, and the race was only decided on February 8, with certified results showing Bailey defeating Stepp by 7 votes.
Following his narrow defeat in the special election, Stepp ran as a Republican against Van Bailey in the Republican primary for the 2023 election. Stepp narrowly defeated Van Bailey with 53% of the vote. Stepp won the general election against Democratic candidate Danny Lampley and independent Andy Clark with 71% of the vote. During his time in the legislature, Stepp focused on public health, serving on the Public Health and Human Services Committee alongside the Medicaid, public utility, drug policy and Judiciary A committees.

## Personal life and death

Stepp resided in Bruce, Mississippi. He had two daughters and five grandchildren. Stepp was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bruce. He died on December 5, 2024, at the age of 66.

## Electoral history

2023 Mississippi's 23rd House of Representatives district special election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Andrew Stepp | 1,142 | 48.41 |
| | Nonpartisan | Perry Van Bailey | 900 | 38.15 |
| | Nonpartisan | Andy Clark | 317 | 13.44 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,359 | 100.0 |
2023 Mississippi's 23rd House of Representatives district special runoff election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Perry Van Bailey | 1,195 | 50.15 |
| | Nonpartisan | Andrew Stepp | 1,188 | 49.85 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,383 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
2023 Mississippi's 23rd House of Representatives district Republican primary election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Andrew Stepp | 3,135 | 53.18 |
| | Republican | Perry Van Bailey (incumbent) | 2,760 | 46.82 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,895 | 100.0 |
2023 Mississippi's 23rd House of Representatives district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Andrew Stepp | 5,829 | 71.91 |
| | Democratic | Danny Lampley | 1,283 | 15.83 |
| | Independent | Andy Clark | 994 | 12.26 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 8,106 | 100.0 |