Mississippi's fifty-fifth state house district is represented by Democratic Representative Oscar Denton.

Mississippi state representatives represent an average of 24,322 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 23,317 residents.

About the office

Members of the Mississippi House of Representatives 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 House of Representatives, a candidate must:

• Be 21 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 house, 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 House of Representatives 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.

No Republican candidates ran in the primary.

2015

Elections for the Mississippi House of Representatives took place in 2015. A primary election was held on August 4, 2015. The general election took place on November 3, 2015. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 27, 2015. Incumbent Oscar Denton defeated Chris Green and Arrick R. Rice in the Democratic primary. No Republican candidates filed for election. Denton ran unchallenged in the District 55 general election.

Mississippi House of Representatives, District 55 Democratic Primary, 2015

2013

Oscar Denton won election in the special election for Mississippi House of Representatives District 55. The seat was vacant following George Flaggs, Jr.'s (D) election as Mayor of Vicksburg. Denton defeated Chris Green, Andrew W. Harrell, Marie Thompson and Joseph E. Williams, Jr. in the special election, which took place on November 5, 2013. Special elections in Mississippi are nonpartisan.

Mississippi House of Representatives, District 55, Special Election, 2013

2011

Elections for the office of Mississippi House of Representatives 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. Incumbent George Flaggs, Jr. (D) defeated Sam Smith (R) in the general election. Both candidates were unopposed in the August 2 primary elections.

Mississippi House of Representatives, District 55 General Election, 2011

Campaign contributions

From 2003 to 2011, candidates for Mississippi House of Representatives District 55 raised a total of $243,130. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $48,626 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Mississippi House of Representatives District 55