Mississippi's thirty-seventh state senate district is vacant. It was last represented by Democratic Senator Robert Dearing.

Mississippi state senators represent an average of 57,063 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 54,705 residents.

About the office

Members of the Mississippi State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. 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.

Qualifications

In order to run for the Mississippi State Senate, a candidate must:

• Be 25 years of age or older.
• Be a qualified elector and resident of the State of Mississippi for four years.
• Be a resident of the county or district a candidate plans to represent for two years.
• If running as a Republican or Democrat, pay a $15 filing fee to the State Executive Committee of the party with which the candidate is affiliated.
• If running as an independent, submit 50 signatures to the Circuit Clerk or the Secretary of State.

Salaries

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the senate, a special election is required to fill the vacant seat. The Governor must call for an election no later than 30 days after the vacancy happened. After the governor sets the election date, the counties conducting the election must be given at least 40 days notice before the election. All qualifying deadlines are 30 days before the election.

No special election is held if the vacancy happens after June 1st in an election year.

Elections

2019

Elections for the Mississippi State Senate took place in 2019. The primary was on August 6, 2019, the primary runoff was on August 27, and the general election was on November 5. The filing deadline for candidates was March 1, 2019.

2015

Elections for the Mississippi State Senate took place in 2015. A primary election was held on August 4, 2015, and the general election was held on November 3, 2015. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 27, 2015. Robert Dearing defeated Etta Batteaste-Taplin in the Democratic primary. Incumbent Melanie Sojourner defeated Lane Reed and Curtis Moroney in the Republican primary. Dearing defeated Sojourner in the general election.

On December 2, 2015, Sojourner formally challenged the outcome of the election, saying that "criminal fraud" was responsible for her defeat. On January 5, 2016, Lt. Gov Tate Reeves (R) appointed a senatorial committee consisting of Terry Burton (R), Rita Parks (R), Sally Doty (R), Joey Fillingane (R) and Hillman Frazier (D). The committee was required to make a recommendation by January 18; it could either declare a winner or call a new election. The chamber voted 47-3 to seat Dearing.

Mississippi State Senate, District 37 General Election, 2015

Mississippi State Senate, District 37 Democratic Primary, 2015

Mississippi State Senate, District 37 Republican Primary, 2015

2011

Elections for the office of Mississippi State Senate consisted of a primary election on August 2, 2011 and a general election on November 8, 2011. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 1, 2011. Melanie Sojourner (R) defeated incumbent Robert Dearing (D) in the general election. Sojourner defeated Stephen Oglesby in the Republican primary. Dearing was unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Mississippi State Senate, District 37 General Election, 2011

Mississippi State Senate, District 37 Republican Primary, 2011

Campaign contributions

From 2003 to 2011, candidates for Mississippi State Senate District 37 raised a total of $286,663. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $57,333 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Mississippi State Senate District 37