Mississippi's eighty-fifth state house district is represented by Democratic Representative Jeffery Harness.

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.

2018

A special election for the position of Mississippi House of Representatives District 85 was called for November 6, 2018. A runoff election was held on November 27, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was September 17, 2018.

The seat became vacant in September 2018 following the resignation of Chuck Middleton (D).

Jeffery Harness defeated JoAnn Collins-Smith in the special general runoff election for Mississippi House of Representatives District 85 on November 27, 2018.

Jeffery Harness and JoAnn Collins-Smith advanced to a runoff. They defeated Maurice Hudson and Tyler Doss in the special general election for Mississippi House of Representatives District 85 on November 6, 2018.

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 America Chuck Middleton defeated Maurice Hudson and Allen Burks in the Democratic primary. No Republican candidates filed for election. Middleton ran unchallenged in the District 85 general election.

Mississippi House of Representatives, District 85 Democratic Primary, 2015

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 America Chuck Middleton (D) was unopposed in the general election and the Democratic primary.

Campaign contributions

From 2003 to 2011, candidates for Mississippi House of Representatives District 85 raised a total of $41,420. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $5,917 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Mississippi House of Representatives District 85