# Mississippi's 1st congressional district

Mississippi's 1st congressional district is in the northeast corner of the state. It includes much of the northern portion of the state including Columbus, Oxford, Southaven, Tupelo, Olive Branch, and West Point. The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) is in the district.
The district includes Alcorn, Benton, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Clay, DeSoto, Itawamba, Lafayette, Lee, Lowndes, Marshall, Monroe, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, Union, Webster, and a portion of Oktibbeha County.
From statehood to the election of 1846, Mississippi elected representatives at-large statewide on a general ticket.
The congressional seat has been held by Republican Trent Kelly who won a June, 2015 special election to fill the vacant seat previously held by Republican Alan Nunnelee who died February 6, 2015. In the November 2010 election, Nunnelee had defeated Democratic incumbent Travis Childers, Constitutionalist Gail Giaramita, Independent Conservative Party candidate Wally Pang of Batesville, Libertarian Harold Taylor, and Reformist Barbara Dale Washer.

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 63% - 36% |
| 2008 | Senate (Reg.) | Cochran 65% - 35% |
| 2008 | Senate (Spec.) | Wicker 62% - 38% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 63% - 37% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 66% - 32% |
| 2018 | Senate (Reg.) | Wicker 66% - 32% |
| 2018 | Senate (Spec.) | Hyde-Smith 62% - 38% |
| 2019 | Governor | Reeves 60% - 39% |
| 2019 | Lt. Governor | Hosemann 67% - 33% |
| 2019 | Attorney General | Fitch 66% - 34% |
| 2020 | President | Trump 65% - 33% |
| 2020 | Senate | Hyde-Smith 61% - 37% |
| 2023 | Governor | Reeves 58% - 41% |
| 2023 | Lt. Governor | Hosemann 68% - 32% |
| 2023 | Attorney General | Fitch 67% - 33% |
| 2023 | Secretary of State | Watson 67% - 33% |
| 2023 | State Treasurer | McRae 67% - 33% |
| 2023 | State Auditor | White 66% - 34% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 68% - 31% |
| 2024 | Senate | Wicker 69% - 31% |

## Composition

The 1st district includes the entirety of the following counties with the exception of Oktibbeha, which it shares with the 3rd district. Oktibbeha County communities within the 1st district include Sturgis and Maben (which is partially located in Webster County).
| # | County | Seat | Population |
| 3 | Alcorn | Corinth | 34,135 |
| 9 | Benton | Ashland | 7,438 |
| 13 | Calhoun | Pittsboro | 12,685 |
| 17 | Chickasaw | Houston, Okolona | 16,866 |
| 19 | Choctaw | Ackerman | 8,088 |
| 25 | Clay | West Point | 18,206 |
| 33 | DeSoto | Hernando | 193,247 |
| 57 | Itawamba | Fulton | 24,093 |
| 71 | Lafayette | Oxford | 58,467 |
| 81 | Lee | Tupelo | 82,799 |
| 87 | Lowndes | Columbus | 57,283 |
| 93 | Marshall | Holly Springs | 34,123 |
| 95 | Monroe | Aberdeen | 33,609 |
| 105 | Oktibbeha | Starkville | 51,203 |
| 115 | Pontotoc | Pontotoc | 31,535 |
| 117 | Prentiss | Booneville | 25,135 |
| 137 | Tate | Senatobia | 28,261 |
| 139 | Tippah | Ripley | 21,287 |
| 141 | Tishomingo | Iuka | 18,507 |
| 145 | Union | New Albany | 28,284 |
| 155 | Webster | Walthall | 9,988 |

## List of members representing the district

| Member | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history | District location and map |
| District created March 4, 1847 ||||||
| Jacob Thompson (Oxford) | Democratic | March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1851 | 30th 31st | Redistricted from the at-large district and re-elected in 1846. Re-elected in 1848. Lost re-election as a Southern Rights candidate. | |
| Benjamin Nabers (Hickory Flat) | Union | March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1853 | 32nd | Elected in 1851. Lost re-election as a Whig. | |
| Daniel B. Wright (Salem) | Democratic | March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1857 | 33rd 34th | Elected in 1853. Re-elected in 1855. Retired. | |
| Lucius Q. C. Lamar (Abbeville) | Democratic | March 4, 1857 – December 20, 1860 | 35th 36th | Elected in 1857. Re-elected in 1859. Resigned to become a member of the secession convention of Mississippi. | |
| Vacant | Vacant | December 20, 1860 – February 23, 1870 | 36th 37th 38th 39th 40th 41st | Civil War and Reconstruction | Civil War and Reconstruction |
| George E. Harris (Hernando) | Republican | February 23, 1870 – March 3, 1873 | 41st 42nd | Elected in 1869 to finish the term and to the next term. Retired. | |
| Lucius Q. C. Lamar (Oxford) | Democratic | March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1877 | 43rd 44th | Elected in 1872. Re-elected in 1874. Retired to run for U.S. senator. | |
| Henry L. Muldrow (Starkville) | Democratic | March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1885 | 45th 46th 47th 48th | Elected in 1876. Re-elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. Re-elected in 1882. Retired to become First Assistant Secretary of the Interior. | |
| John Allen (Tupelo) | Democratic | March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1901 | 49th 50th 51st 52nd 53rd 54th 55th 56th | Elected in 1884. Re-elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. Re-elected in 1890. Re-elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Re-elected in 1898. Retired. | |
| Ezekiel S. Candler Jr. (Corinth) | Democratic | March 4, 1901 – March 3, 1921 | 57th 58th 59th 60th 61st 62nd 63rd 64th 65th 66th | Elected in 1900. Re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Lost renomination. | |
| John Rankin (Tupelo) | Democratic | March 4, 1921 – January 3, 1953 | 67th 68th 69th 70th 71st 72nd 73rd 74th 75th 76th 77th 78th 79th 80th 81st 82nd | Elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Re-elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Lost renomination. | |
| Thomas Abernethy (Okolona) | Democratic | January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1973 | 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd | Redistricted from the 4th district and re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Retired. | |
| Jamie Whitten (Charleston) | Democratic | January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1995 | 93rd 94th 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd | Redistricted from the 2nd district and re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Retired. | |
| Roger Wicker (Tupelo) | Republican | January 3, 1995 – December 31, 2007 | 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th | Elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Resigned after being appointed U.S. senator. | |
| Roger Wicker (Tupelo) | Republican | January 3, 1995 – December 31, 2007 | 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th | Elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Resigned after being appointed U.S. senator. | 2003–2013 |
| Vacant | Vacant | December 31, 2007 – May 13, 2008 | 110th | | 2003–2013 |
| Travis Childers (Booneville) | Democratic | May 13, 2008 – January 3, 2011 | 110th 111th | Elected to finish Wicker's term. Re-elected in 2008. Lost re-election. | 2003–2013 |
| Alan Nunnelee (Tupelo) | Republican | January 3, 2011 – February 6, 2015 | 112th 113th 114th | Elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Died. | 2003–2013 |
| Alan Nunnelee (Tupelo) | Republican | January 3, 2011 – February 6, 2015 | 112th 113th 114th | Elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Died. | 2013–2023 |
| Vacant | Vacant | February 6, 2015 – June 2, 2015 | 114th | | 2013–2023 |
| Trent Kelly (Saltillo) | Republican | June 2, 2015 – present | 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th 119th | Elected to finish Nunnelee's term. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2013–2023 |
| Trent Kelly (Saltillo) | Republican | June 2, 2015 – present | 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th 119th | Elected to finish Nunnelee's term. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2023–present |

## Recent election results
### 2012

Mississippi's 1st congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Alan Nunnelee (incumbent) | 186,760 | 60.4 |
| | Democratic | Brad Morris | 114,076 | 36.9 |
| | Libertarian | Danny Bedwell | 3,584 | 1.2 |
| | Constitution | Jim R. Bourland | 2,390 | 0.8 |
| | Reform | Chris Potts | 2,367 | 0.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 309,177 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2014

Mississippi's 1st congressional district, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Alan Nunnelee (incumbent) | 102,622 | 67.9 |
| | Democratic | Ron Dickey | 43,713 | 28.9 |
| | Libertarian | Danny Bedwell | 3,830 | 2.6 |
| | Reform | Lajena Walley | 946 | 0.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 151,111 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2015 special election

Mississippi's 1st congressional district special general election, 2015 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Walter Zinn | 15,385 | 17.41 |
| | Nonpartisan | Trent Kelly | 14,418 | 16.32 |
| | Nonpartisan | Mike Tagert | 11,231 | 12.71 |
| | Nonpartisan | Greg Pirkle | 7,142 | 8.08 |
| | Nonpartisan | Starner Jones | 6,993 | 7.91 |
| | Nonpartisan | Chip Mills | 6,929 | 7.84 |
| | Nonpartisan | Henry Ross | 4,313 | 4.88 |
| | Nonpartisan | Boyce Adams | 4,037 | 4.57 |
| | Nonpartisan | Nancy Adams Collins | 4,006 | 4.53 |
| | Nonpartisan | Sam Adcock | 4,000 | 4.53 |
| | Nonpartisan | Ed "Doc" Holliday | 3,958 | 4.48 |
| | Nonpartisan | Quentin Whitwell | 3,124 | 3.56 |
| | Nonpartisan | Daniel Sparks | 2,828 | 3.20 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 88,364 | 100.0 |
Mississippi's 1st congressional district special runoff election, 2015 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Trent Kelly | 69,516 | 69.97 |
| | Nonpartisan | Walter Zinn | 29,831 | 30.03 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 99,347 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2016

Mississippi's 1st congressional district, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Trent Kelly (incumbent) | 206,455 | 68.7 |
| | Democratic | Jacob Owens | 83,947 | 27.9 |
| | Libertarian | Chase Wilson | 6,181 | 2.1 |
| | Reform | Cathy Toole | 3,840 | 1.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 300,123 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2018

Mississippi's 1st congressional district, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Trent Kelly (incumbent) | 158,245 | 66.9 |
| | Democratic | Randy Wadkins | 76,601 | 32.4 |
| | Reform | Tracella Lou O'Hara Hil | 1,675 | 0.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 236,521 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2020

Mississippi's 1st congressional district, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Trent Kelly (incumbent) | 228,787 | 68.7 |
| | Democratic | Antonia Eliason | 104,008 | 31.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 332,795 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2022

Mississippi's 1st congressional district, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Trent Kelly (incumbent) | 122,151 | 72.97 |
| | Democratic | Dianne Black | 45,238 | 27.03 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 167,389 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2024

Mississippi's 1st congressional district, 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Trent Kelly (incumbent) | 223,589 | 69.81 |
| | Democratic | Dianne Black | 96,697 | 30.19 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 320,286 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |