2014 United States Senate election in Mississippi

Thad Cochran was first elected to the Senate with a plurality of the vote in a three-way race in 1978. He was reelected with at least 61% of the vote in 1984, 1990, 1996, 2002, and 2008.

Cochran was the last incumbent senator up for reelection in 2014 to declare whether he would run, causing widespread speculation that he would retire.{{cite news | title=Mississippi Senate race 2014: Guessing game over Thad Cochran run| url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/08/mississippi-senate-race-thad-cochran-95350.html| work=Politico| date=August 8, 2013| access-date=August 9, 2013}}{{cite web | url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-congress/2013/03/cochran-too-early-on-159825.html | title =Thad Cochran: Too early on 2014 | first=Manu | last=Raju | publisher=politico.com | date =May 20, 2013}} Despite being urged to declare his intentions, Cochran said in August 2013, "I don't have a fixed date. But [I will decide] by the end of the year. You don't want to rush into these things." On November 12, he announced that he would reveal his plans by the end of the month.{{cite web | url=http://atr.rollcall.com/cochran-to-reveal-future-plans-by-end-of-the-month | title =Cochran To Reveal Future Plans By End of the Month | first=Emily | last=Cahn | publisher=Roll Call | date =November 12, 2013}} On December 6, he confirmed that he would run.

Cochran's fundraising ability, powerful Senate committee assignments, and very high approval ratings meant that he was considered "unbeatable". Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman Rickey Cole said that "in the very likely event that he does [run], we don't foresee a major Democratic challenger emerging."{{cite web | url=http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/10/ap_analysis_no_smooth_road_for.html | title =AP analysis: No smooth road for U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran if he runs | publisher=blog.gulflive.com | date =October 27, 2013}} Had he chosen to retire, a "stampede" was predicted in the Republican primary{{cite news | title= Speculation continues over Cochran's seat in the U.S. Senate: If a Senate seat opens, expect a stampede | url=http://mississippipep.wordpress.com/2012/07/23/speculation-continues-over-cochrans-seat-in-the-u-s-senate-if-a-senate-seat-opens-expect-a-stampede/| work=Mississippi PEP| date=July 23, 2012 | access-date=July 22, 2013}} and Democrats believed that a "properly positioned" candidate could have been competitive in the general election.

The United States Senate Republican primary election in Mississippi took place on June 3, 2014. Incumbent Republican Senator Thad Cochran, who had served in the position since 1978, ran for reelection to a seventh term. He was challenged for the nomination by State Senator Chris McDaniel, a Tea Party supporter, and Thomas Carey. Cochran and McDaniel received 49.0% and 49.5% of the vote, respectively. Since no candidate won a majority, a June 24 runoff election ensued.

Cochran defeated McDaniel in the runoff, 51% to 49%.{{cite news | last=Todd | first=Chuck | date=June 4, 2014 | title=Mississippi Runoff Bad News for Thad Cochran | url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/first-read/mississippi-runoff-bad-news-thad-cochran-n122171 | newspaper=NBCNews.com | location=New York City | publisher=NBCUniversal | access-date=June 4, 2014}}{{cite news | last1=Burns | first1=Alexander | title=COCHRAN WINS | url=http://www.politico.com/story/2014/06/primary-election-2014-108258.html?hp=t1 | access-date=June 25, 2014 | publisher=Politico | date=June 24, 2014}} Controversially, Cochran's campaign invited Democrats to vote in the runoff, and Cochran-affiliated super PACs used racist themes in their primary ads, particularly the super-PAC All Citizens for Mississippi, which was funded (according to F.E.C. filings){{cite news | date=July 15, 2014 | title=REPORT OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS | url=http://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/073/14961619073/14961619073.pdf | publisher=Federal Election Commission}}{{cite news | date=October 15, 2014 | title=REPORT OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS | url=http://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/589/14978300589/14978300589.pdf | publisher=Federal Election Commission}} by a super-PAC affiliated with former governor Haley Barbour.

Chris McDaniel declared his candidacy on October 17, 2013.{{cite news | author=Abby Livingston| title= Tea Party Candidate Challenges Thad Cochran | url=http://atr.rollcall.com/tea-party-candidate-challenges-thad-cochran/| work=Roll Call | date=October 17, 2013 | access-date=October 17, 2013}} He was immediately endorsed by the Club for Growth and Jim DeMint's Senate Conservatives Fund. McDaniel was initially thought to have no chance of beating Cochran in the primary, as summed up by the Jackson Free Press, who remarked that if McDaniel challenged Cochran, it would be the "beginning of [the] end of [his] political career".{{cite news | author=R.L. Nave| title= Sen. Chris McDaniel to Announce Beginning of End of Political Career | url=http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/weblogs/politics-blog/2013/oct/15/sen-chris-mcdaniel-to-announce-beginning-of-end-of/| work=Jackson Free Press | date=October 15, 2012 | access-date=October 17, 2013}} Republican lobbyist Henry Barbour, the nephew of former governor Haley Barbour, said: "I think he will get his head handed to him, and that will be what he deserves. [But] it's a free country."{{cite news | title= Mississippi Republicans Wait for Cochran's Decision | url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/mississippi_republicans_wait_for_cochrans_decision-227904-1.html| work=Roll Call | date=September 25, 2012 | access-date=November 12, 2013 | author=Abby Livingston}} Rather, McDaniel was believed to have declared his candidacy in the hope that Cochran wouldn't run, so that he could get "first crack" at the support of Tea Party groups and donors ahead of a competitive primary.

Although the race was initially considered uncompetitive, McDaniel proved a serious challenger. Polling showed the lead swinging between the two and it eventually became a "50%-50% race".{{cite news | url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/first-read/could-tea-party-win-mississippi-change-2014-math-n121136 | title= Could a Tea Party Win in Mississippi Change the 2014 Math? | work=NBC News | date=June 3, 2014 | access-date=June 3, 2014}}

The race was considered a marquee establishment-versus-Tea Party fight and significant because Mississippi is the poorest state and Cochran's seniority and appropriating skills contrasted with the junior status of the rest of the state's congressional delegation.{{cite news | title=Most Fascinating Races of 2014: Mississippi Senate | url=http://atr.rollcall.com/our-favorite-things-mississippi-senate/ | work=Roll Call | date=December 26, 2012 | access-date=December 31, 2013 | author=Abby Livingston | archive-date=December 29, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131229054747/http://atr.rollcall.com/our-favorite-things-mississippi-senate/ | url-status=dead }} McDaniel was endorsed by politicians including Sarah Palin and Rick Santorum and organizations including Citizens United, Club for Growth, FreedomWorks, Madison Project, National Association for Gun Rights, Senate Conservatives Fund and Tea Party Express. By contrast, the Republican establishment rallied around Cochran, who was endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund and National Right to Life.

The race was described as "nasty" and full of "bizarre" twists.{{cite news| url=http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2014/06/01/miss-voters-ready-end-senate-primary/9854249 | title=Miss. voters ready for end to Senate primary | work=The Clarion-Ledger | date=June 2, 2014 | access-date=June 3, 2014 | author=Deborah Barfield Berry}} McDaniel's campaign attacked Cochran for being "an out-of-touch, big-spending Washington insider" and Cochran's replied that "McDaniel's voting record in the state Senate does not match his conservative rhetoric." Each side accused the other of distortions and outright lies.{{cite news | url=http://djournal.com/news/bruising-senate-battle-nears-finish | title=Bruising Senate battle nears finish | work=DJournal | date=June 1, 2014 | access-date=June 3, 2014 | author=Bobby Harrison | archive-date=June 6, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606221245/http://djournal.com/news/bruising-senate-battle-nears-finish/ | url-status=dead }}

Cochran ran on his incumbency, seniority and the fact that he would become the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee if the Republicans retook control of the Senate.{{cite news| url=http://atr.rollcall.com/thad-cochran-for-senate-mississippi-appropriations | title=Thad Cochran Runs on Incumbency, Appropriations in GOP Primary | work=DJournal | date=June 3, 2014 | access-date=June 3, 2014 | author=Kyle Trygstad}}{{cite news| url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/06/03/will-mississippi-end-its-love-affair-with-seniority | title=Will Mississippi End Its Love Affair With Seniority? | work=Wall Street Journal | date=June 3, 2014 | access-date=June 3, 2014 | author=Janet Hook}} In addition to ideological differences, the race also highlighted geographic divides in the state Republican Party.{{cite news| url=http://blogs.rollcall.com/rothenblog/mississippi-primary-cochran-delta | title=Thad Cochran's Mississippi | work=Roll Call | date=June 3, 2014 | access-date=June 3, 2014 | author=Stuart Rothenberg}}{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/03/upshot/mississippi-primary-fight-is-one-of-geography-as-well-as-ideology.html | title=Mississippi Primary Fight Is One of Geography as Well as Ideology | work=The New York Times | date=June 2, 2014 | access-date=June 3, 2014 | author=Nate Cohn}}

In May 2014, a scandal emerged when Clayton Thomas Kelly, a McDaniel supporter, allegedly entered a nursing home where Cochran's bedridden wife was living and took pictures of her. Kelly posted the images as part of a video on his blog, intending to advance the rumor that Cochran was having affairs while his wife was receiving care.{{cite news | url=http://www.businessinsider.com/mississippi-senate-race-thad-cochran-chris-mcdaniel-wife-photo-2014-5 | title=This Is The Single Nastiest Campaign Fight In America | work=Business Insider | date=May 20, 2014 | access-date=June 3, 2014 | author=Brett Logiurato}} Four people were arrested in connection with the incident. The connection to the McDaniel campaign was disputed. One of the arrested included McDaniel ally Mark Mayfield, who was vice chairman of the state's Tea Party.{{cite web | last1=OHLHEISER | first1=ABBY | title=The Bizarre Scandal That Could Tear Apart the Tea Party's Best Hope for a Primary Win | url=http://www.thewire.com/politics/2014/05/the-bizarre-scandal-that-could-tear-apart-the-tea-partys-best-hope-for-a-primary-win/371504/ | website=The Wire | publisher=The Wire | access-date=June 8, 2014 | archive-date=May 26, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140526135013/http://www.thewire.com/politics/2014/05/the-bizarre-scandal-that-could-tear-apart-the-tea-partys-best-hope-for-a-primary-win/371504/ | url-status=dead }} In response, McDaniel said, "the violation of the privacy of Mrs. Cochran [was] out of bounds for politics and reprehensible."{{cite web | last1=LoGiurato | first1=Brett | title=A Top Mississippi Tea Party Official And Two Others Have Been Arrested In Connection With The Bizarre Senate Race | url=https://www.businessinsider.com/mississippi-senate-arrest-cochran-wife-photo-rose-2014-5 | website=Business Insider | date= May 22, 2014 | access-date=September 5, 2018}}

{{ external media | float = right | width = 382px | image1 = [https://web.archive.org/web/20140826232422/http://thenavigatoronline.com/wp-content/plugins/rss-poster/cache/a2e2d_320x533xthad-mailer.jpg.pagespeed.ic.QY64YjY1LH.jpg The Tea Party Intends To Prevent You From Voting]. Several ads such as this one invoked or leveraged racist themes. Several ads of a similar nature were distributed via Twitter and resulted in a request for censure in front of the National GOP. Photo provided via The Hill (newspaper).{{cite web | url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/214665-cochran-backer-stands-by-racially-tinged-ads-in-miss-senate/ | title=Cochran backer stands by racially tinged Mississippi ads.| date=August 8, 2014}}{{cite web | url=http://spectator.org/articles/59766/who-paid-race-baiting-flier-mississippi | title=Who Paid for Race-Baiting Flier in Mississippi? | access-date=February 11, 2015 | work=The American Spectator | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212062641/http://spectator.org/articles/59766/who-paid-race-baiting-flier-mississippi | archive-date=February 12, 2015 | url-status=dead }} }}

A second scandal emerged during the primary when pro-Cochran ads appealed to African American voters by suggesting that Tea Party efforts to prevent Democrats from voting were racially motivated.{{cite magazine | last=Fund | first=John | url=http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/381187/flier-got-thad-cochran-elected-john-fund | title=The Flier That Got Thad Cochran Elected? | magazine=National Review | date=July 25, 2014 | access-date=August 18, 2014}} Charges first surfaced{{cite web | last=Drucker | first=David | url=http://washingtonexaminer.com/democratic-activists-were-behind-controversial-klan-ads-in-mississippi/article/2551630# | title=Democratic activists were behind controversial Klan ads in Mississippi | publisher=Washington Examiner.Com | date=August 4, 2014 | access-date=August 7, 2014}} that a small group of elderly Democratic women activists calling themselves Citizens for Progress were behind the controversy, but later facts as well as money trails show that money exchanged hands multiple times between Citizens for Progress{{cite web | last=Hall | first=Sam | url=http://www.clarionledger.com/story/dailyledes/2014/08/04/democrat-kkk-radio-ads/13584097 | title=Harris denies anyone tied to Cochran involved in KKK ads | publisher=ClarionLedger.Com | date=August 5, 2014 | access-date=August 7, 2014}} and Mississippi Conservatives PAC.

After the fallout of the primary election, Missouri Republican Party chairman Ed Martin wrote an op-ed calling for the censure of Henry Barbour for his role in the funding{{cite magazine | last=Johnson | first=Eliana | url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/383087/barbour-machines-mississippi-ad-war-eliana-johnson | title= The Barbour Machine's Mississippi Ad War | magazine=National Review | date=July 18, 2014 | access-date=August 22, 2014}} of racist advertisements. He also called for Barbour's censure at an RNC summer meeting in Chicago.{{cite news | url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/214665-cochran-backer-stands-by-racially-tinged-ads-in-miss-senate/ | title=Cochran backer stands by racially tinged Mississippi ads | newspaper=The Hill | date=August 8, 2014 | access-date=August 22, 2014}}

Senator Ted Cruz appeared on the Mark Levin Show to discuss the Mississippi primary. He called for an investigation,{{cite web | url=http://www.marklevinshow.com/common/page.php?pt=Ted+Cruz%3A+We+Need+An+Investigation+Into+the+Mississippi+Race&id=10103 | title=Ted Cruz: We Need An Investigation Into the Mississippi Race | publisher=The Mark Levin Show | date=July 7, 2014 | access-date=August 29, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903133720/http://www.marklevinshow.com/common/page.php?pt=Ted+Cruz%3A+We+Need+An+Investigation+Into+the+Mississippi+Race&id=10103 | archive-date=September 3, 2014 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }} saying, "the ads they ran were racially charged false attacks".{{cite news | last=Sullivan | first=Sean | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/07/07/ted-cruz-slams-d-c-machine-over-mississippi-runoff-wants-voter-fraud-investigation | title=Ted Cruz slams 'D.C. machine' over Mississippi runoff, wants voter-fraud investigation | newspaper=Washington Post | date=July 25, 2014 | access-date=August 27, 2014}}

File:2014SenateRepublicanPrimaryMS.svg

The presence of a third candidate, Thomas Carey, opened the possibility that neither Cochran nor McDaniel would win a majority.{{cite news | url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/208000-will-mississippi-mudslinging-topple-first-senate-incumbent/ | title=Biggest Super Tuesday casualty? | work=The Hill | date=June 3, 2014 | access-date=June 3, 2014 | author=Alexandra Jaffe}} Indeed, no candidate did, so a runoff between McDaniel and Cochran was required, and was held on June 24.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/05/us/politics/cochran-and-mcdaniel-mississippi-primary-runoff.html | title=Mississippi's G.O.P. Senate Primary Headed to a Runoff | last=Martin | first=Jonathan | date=June 4, 2014 | newspaper=The New York Times | access-date=June 4, 2014}} The runoff was generally seen as advantageous to McDaniel.{{cite web | url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/is-there-a-favorite-in-the-republican-runoff-for-senate-in-mississippi/ | title=Is There a Favorite in the Republican Runoff For Senate in Mississippi? | website=FiveThirtyEight | publisher=Five Thirty Eight| last1=ENTEN | first1=HARRY | date=June 5, 2014 | access-date=June 8, 2014}}{{cite web | last1=Clancy | first1=Dean | title=The Tea Party Will Win One in Mississippi | url=https://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/opinion-blog/2014/06/06/chris-mcdaniel-will-best-thad-cochran-in-mississippi-senate-runoff | website=U.S. News & World Report | publisher=U.S. News & World Report | access-date=June 8, 2014}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Republican primary results{{cite web | url=http://www.sos.ms.gov/page.aspx?s=7&s1=1&s2=172 | title=2014 Republican Primary Results | date=June 13, 2014 | access-date=July 9, 2014 | work=Secretary of State of Mississippi | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714183322/http://www.sos.ms.gov/page.aspx?s=7&s1=1&s2=172 | archive-date=July 14, 2014 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Chris McDaniel

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 157,733

| percentage = 49.46%

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Thad Cochran (incumbent)

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 156,315

| percentage = 49.02%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Thomas Carey

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 4,854

| percentage = 1.52%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 318,902

| percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box end}}

After the election, the Hinds County Sheriff's Office announced it was investigating three McDaniel supporters who were locked inside the local courthouse, where primary ballots were held, on election night.{{cite web | url=http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/mcdaniel-supporters-courthouse-lockin | title=Sheriff investigates Chris McDaniel aide after election-night incident | publisher=MSNBC| last1=Sarlin | first1=Benjy | access-date=June 8, 2014}} It was later reported the supporters would face no criminal charges.{{Cite web |last=Sarlin |first=Benjy |date=2014-06-05 |title=McDaniel supporters in courthouse lock-in avoid charges |url=https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/mcdaniel-supporters-avoid-charges-msna343521 |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=MSNBC.com |language=en}}

[[File:2014 MS US Senate GOP primary runoff.svg|thumb|230px|

Runoff results by county:

Cochran:

{{legend0|#d35f5f|50–60%}}

{{legend0|#c83737|60–70%}}

{{legend0|#a02c2c|70–80%}}

{{legend0|#782121|80–90%}}

McDaniel:

{{legend0|#5fd35f|50–60%}}

{{legend0|#37c837|60–70%}}

{{legend0|#2ca02c|70–80%}}

{{legend0|#217821|80–90%}}

]]

The runoff was scheduled for June 24, three weeks after the primary. Despite trailing in most of the polls,{{cite web | url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2014/senate/ms/mississippi_senate_republican_primary_runoff-5094.html#polls | title=polling data | date=June 24, 2014 | access-date=February 22, 2015 | work=Real Clear Politics}} Cochran won with 51% of the vote to McDaniel's 49%. McDaniel once again won big in his native Pine Belt and in the heavily populated suburban Memphis DeSoto County, but Cochran got a surge in votes from African Americans who took advantage of the mixed primary. Many credited Cochran's win to the increase in black voters. Cochran won by 3,532 votes in the most Democratic, African-American precincts in Hinds County (the state's largest county, and home to Jackson). These precincts made up nearly half of Cochran's margin of victory.{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/10/upshot/voting-totals-reveal-crucial-boost-from-blacks-in-cochrans-victory.html?abt=0002&abg=0 | title=precinct data | date=July 9, 2014 | access-date=February 22, 2015 | work=The New York Times}}.

{{Election box begin

| title = Republican primary runoff results{{cite web | url=http://www.sos.ms.gov/page.aspx?s=7&s1=1&s2=175 | title=2014 Republican Primary Runoff Results | date=July 7, 2014 | access-date=July 9, 2014 | work=Secretary of State of Mississippi | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712132917/http://www.sos.ms.gov/page.aspx?s=7&s1=1&s2=175 | archive-date=July 12, 2014 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Thad Cochran (incumbent)

| votes = 194,932

| percentage = 51.00%

| change = +1.98%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Chris McDaniel

| votes = 187,265

| percentage = 49.00%

| change = −0.46%

}}

{{Election box total

| votes = 382,197

| percentage = 100.00%

| change = 0.00%

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Endorsements box

| title = Thad Cochran

| list =

U.S. senators

• Olympia Snowe, former U.S. Senator from Maine{{cite news | url=http://www.olympiaslist.org/?page_id=289/ | title=Olympia's List | access-date=June 1, 2016}}
• Roger Wicker, U.S. Senator
• John McCain, U.S. Senator from Arizona

U.S. representatives

• Gregg Harper, U.S. Representative
• Alan Nunnelee, U.S. Representative{{cite news | url=http://djournal.com/news/cochran-will-run-re-election/ | title=Breaking: Cochran says he will 'run hard and be successful' | work=Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal | date=December 6, 2013 | access-date=February 11, 2014}}

U.S. governors

• Phil Bryant, Governor of Mississippi{{cite news | title=Mississippi leaders react to Thad Cochran's decision to seek seventh term in U.S. Senate | url=http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/12/mississippi_leaders_react_to_t.html | work=GulfLive.com | date=December 6, 2013 | access-date=December 6, 2013}}

Statewide officeholders

• Delbert Hosemann, Secretary of State of Mississippi
• Stacey E. Pickering, State Auditor of Mississippi
• Tate Reeves, Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi

Organizations

• NRA Political Victory Fund{{cite web |title=Mississippi Grades & Endorsements |url=https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/mississippi/ |website=nrapvf.org |publisher=NRA-PVF |access-date=15 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104211821/https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/mississippi |archive-date=4 November 2014 |url-status=usurped}}{{cite web|url=http://onpolitics.usatoday.com/2014/03/25/nra-guns-thad-cochran-endorsement-mcdaniel/|title=OnPolitics - USA TODAY's politics blog|website=USA TODAY|access-date=March 23, 2018}}
• National Right to Life{{Cite web|url=http://www.nrlc.org/communications/releases/2014/release052114/|title=National Right to Life Endorses Sen. Thad Cochran for Re-Election | National Right to Life}}}}

{{Endorsements box

| title = Chris McDaniel

| list =

U.S. senators

• Rick Santorum, former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania, candidate for 2012 Republican Presidential Nomination.

U.S. representatives

• Ron Paul, former U.S. Representative from Texas, candidate for 2012 presidential nomination{{cite web|url=http://www.wmcactionnews5.com/story/25778940/former-pres-candidate-ron-paul-endorses-chris-mcdaniel|title=Ron Paul endorses Chris McDaniel at Hattiesburg rally|first=Charles|last=Herrington|access-date=March 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319213811/http://www.wmcactionnews5.com/story/25778940/former-pres-candidate-ron-paul-endorses-chris-mcdaniel|archive-date=March 19, 2018|url-status=dead}}

U.S. governors

• Sarah Palin, former Governor of Alaska, Republican Vice-Presidential candidate in 2008{{cite web|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2014/03/13/sarah_palin_endorses_three_guys_who_might_be_senators_soon.html|title=Sarah Palin Endorses Three Guys Who Might Be Senators Soon|first=David|last=Weigel|date=March 13, 2014|access-date=March 23, 2018|via=Slate}}

Mississippi state legislators

• Philip Gandy, state senator{{cite news | url=https://mcdaniel2014.com/eight-mississippi-senators-endorse-mcdaniel-for-u-s-senate/ | title=Eight Mississippi Senators Endorse McDaniel for U.S. Senate | publisher=Chris McDaniel for U.S. Senate | date=October 28, 2013 | access-date=February 11, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214062019/https://mcdaniel2014.com/eight-mississippi-senators-endorse-mcdaniel-for-u-s-senate/ | archive-date=February 14, 2014 | url-status=dead }}
• Angela Hill, state senator
• Billy Hudson, state senator
• Chris Massey, state senator
• David Parker, state senator
• Dannie Reed, former state representative
• Tony Smith, state senator
• Melanie Sojourner, state senator
• Michael Watson, state senator{{cite news | url=http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20131018/NEWS01/310180008/McDaniel-tosses-hat-into-US-Senate-race | title=McDaniel tosses hat into US Senate race | work=Hattiesburg American | last=Kemp | first=Ed | date=October 17, 2013 | access-date=October 19, 2013}}
• Lee Yancey, former state senator

Local officeholders

• Hal Marx, Mayor of Petal, Mississippi

Other individuals

• Bryan Fischer, host of the American Family Radio talk show Focal Point{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HysGPoJqxg|people=Bryan Fischer (speaker)|date=June 24, 2014|title=RWW News: Bryan Fischer Campaigns For Chris McDaniel in Mississippi|publisher=Right Wing Watch}}
• Allen Hamilton, Chairman of the Mississippi Federation of College Republicans
• Michael Kelly, Police Chief of Seminary
• Mark Levin, The Mark Levin Show{{cite news | url=https://mcdaniel2014.com/mark-levin-endorses-chris-mcdaniel-for-u-s-senate/ | title=The Mark Levin Show | access-date=February 27, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227040125/https://mcdaniel2014.com/mark-levin-endorses-chris-mcdaniel-for-u-s-senate/ | archive-date=February 27, 2014 | url-status=dead }}
• Donald Trump, businessman and television personality{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/481433833515253760|title=Donald J. Trump on Twitter|access-date=March 23, 2018}}

Organizations

• Citizens United{{cite news | url=http://yallpolitics.com/index.php/yp/post/36843/ | title=Chris McDaniel Endorsed By Citizens United Political Victory Fund | work=Yall Politics | date=January 28, 2014 | access-date=February 11, 2014}}
• Club for Growth{{cite news | url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/chris-mcdaniel-thad-cochran-conservative-groups-98493.html | title=Conservative groups back Thad Cochran opponent | work=Politico | last=Hohmann | first=James | date=October 17, 2013 | access-date=October 19, 2013}}
• FreedomWorks{{cite news | url=http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/mississippi-tea-party-challenger-endorsed-by-freedomworks | title=FreedomWorks Endorses Miss. GOP Primary Challenger Who Attended Neo-Confederate Conference | work=Talking Points Memo | last=Strauss | first=Faniel | date=October 28, 2013 | access-date=October 29, 2013}}
• Madison Project
• National Association for Gun Rights{{cite news | url=http://yallpolitics.com/index.php/yp/post/37056/ | title=National Assn for Gun Rights PAC endorses Chris McDaniel | work=Yall Politics | date=February 19, 2014 | access-date=February 28, 2014}}
• Senate Conservatives Fund
• Tea Party Express{{cite news | url=http://chrismcdanielforsenate.com/news/tea-party-express-endorses-chris-mcdaniel-for-us-senate#.UnphpPmGq90 | title=Tea Party Express Endorses Chris McDaniel For U.S. Senate | work=Chris McDaniel for Senate | access-date=November 6, 2013}}
• Young Americans for Liberty{{cite news | url=https://mcdaniel2014.com/about-chris/#endorsements | title=About Chris | publisher=Chris McDaniel for U.S. Senate | access-date=February 28, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228114518/https://mcdaniel2014.com/about-chris/#endorsements | archive-date=February 28, 2014 | url-status=dead }}

Media

• Mississippi Gun News{{cite news | url=http://www.mississippigunnews.com/now-is-the-time-for-mississippi-gun-owners-to-make-a-change-in-washington/ | title=Now is the time for Mississippi Gun Owners to make a change in Washington | work=Politico | last=Criswell | first=Dana | date=January 4, 2014 | access-date=February 11, 2014}}
• Right Wing News{{cite news | url=http://www.rightwingnews.com/column-2/right-wing-news-endorses-chris-mcdaniel-for-senate-in-mississippi/ | title=Right Wing News Endorses Chris McDaniel for Senate in Mississippi | work=Right Wing News | last=Hawkins | first=John | date=February 18, 2014 | access-date=February 28, 2014}}

}}

Former Congressman Travis Childers had stated that he was interested in running, particularly if Cochran retired.{{cite news | last=Blake | first=Aaron | title=Ex-Rep. Travis Childers (D) considering run for Mississippi Senate seat | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/11/15/ex-rep-travis-childers-d-considering-run-for-mississippi-senate-seat/ | access-date=November 19, 2013 | newspaper=Washington Post | date=November 15, 2013}} With Cochran facing a competitive primary, Childers announced in February 2014 that he was running.{{cite web | url=http://www.politico.com/story/2014/02/travis-childers-thad-cochran-mississippi-104097.html | title=Travis Childers to run for Senate in Mississippi | date=February 28, 2014 | access-date=February 28, 2014 | work=POLITICO | first=Emily | last=Schultheis}} Childers won the Democratic primary with 74% of the vote.

• Travis Childers, former U.S. Representative{{cite news | url=https://djournal.com/news/decision-yet-childers-senate-race/ | title=No decision yet by Childers on Senate race | work=Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal | last=Harrison | first=Bobby | date=February 22, 2014 | access-date=February 26, 2014}}
• William Bond Compton Jr., candidate for Governor of Mississippi in 2007 and 2011{{cite web | url=http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/03/political_buzz_alan_nunnelee_l.html | title=Political buzz: Alan Nunnelee lone Mississippi congressman without a party primary | publisher=The Mississippi Press | date=March 1, 2014 | access-date=March 1, 2014}}
• Bill Marcy, former police officer and Republican nominee for the 2nd congressional district in 2010 and 2012{{cite news | last=Wagster Pettus | first=Emily | date=January 10, 2014 | title=Ex-Republican running as Dem for US Senate in Mississippi | url=http://www.sunherald.com/2014/01/10/5249760/ex-republican-running-as-dem-for.html | newspaper=Sun Herald | location=Biloxi, Mississippi | agency=Associated Press | access-date=January 13, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115031646/http://www.sunherald.com/2014/01/10/5249760/ex-republican-running-as-dem-for.html | archive-date=January 15, 2014 | url-status=dead }}
• Jonathan Rawl

• David Baria, state representative
• Jim Hood, Mississippi Attorney General
• Bill Luckett, Mayor of Clarksdale and candidate for governor in 2011{{cite news | author=Ken Strachan| title= Cochran Retirement Could Be Interesting | url=http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2012/sep/05/cochran-retirement-could-be-interesting/| work=Jackson Free Press | date=September 5, 2012 | access-date=July 1, 2013}}
• Ray Mabus, United States Secretary of the Navy and former governor of Mississippi
• Connie Moran, Mayor of Ocean Springs{{cite news | url=http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/10/ap_analysis_no_smooth_road_for.html | title=AP analysis: No smooth road for U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran if he runs | work=Mississippi Press | date=October 27, 2013 | access-date=February 26, 2014}}
• Ronnie Musgrove, former governor of Mississippi and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2008{{cite news | url=http://neshobademocrat.com/main.asp?SectionID=7&SubSectionID=302&ArticleID=29832 | title=PERRY/Who runs if Cochran doesn't? | last=Perry | first=Brian | work=Neshoba Democrat | date=July 31, 2013 | access-date=October 18, 2013}}
• Brandon Presley, Commissioner for the Northern District of the Mississippi Public Service Commission{{cite news | author=Sam R. Hall| title=State Sen. Chris McDaniel to challenge U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran | url=http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20131017/NEWS/131017005/| work=The Clarion-Ledger| date=October 17, 2013| access-date=October 19, 2013}}
• Gene Taylor, former U.S. Representative
• Bennie Thompson, U.S. Representative

[[File:Mississippi U.S. Senate Democratic primary, 2014.svg|thumb|230px|

Primary results by county:

{{legend|#002b84|Childers—>90%}}

{{legend|#0645b4|Childers—80–90%}}

{{legend|#1666cb|Childers—70–80%}}

{{legend|#4389e3|Childers—60–70%}}

{{legend|#86b6f2|Childers—50–60%}}

{{legend|#b9d7ff|Childers—40–50%}}

]]

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Democratic primary results{{cite web | url=http://www.sos.ms.gov/page.aspx?s=7&s1=1&s2=173 | title=2014 Democrat Primary Results | date=June 13, 2014 | access-date=July 9, 2014 | work=Secretary of State of Mississippi | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714131404/http://www.sos.ms.gov/page.aspx?s=7&s1=1&s2=173 | archive-date=July 14, 2014 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Travis Childers

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 63,548

| percentage = 73.9%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Bill Marcy

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 10,361

| percentage = 12.1%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = William Compton

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 8,465

| percentage = 9.9%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Jonathan Rawl

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 3,492

| percentage = 4.1%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 85,866

| percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box end}}

File:Travis Childers.jpg

Childers described himself as a "moderate to conservative" Democrat, highlighting his vote against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and his opposition to new gun-control measures, abortion and same-sex marriage.{{cite news | author=Alexander Burns| title=Can a Democrat win in Mississippi? | url=http://www.politico.com/story/2014/05/mississippi-2014-senate-election-democrat-travis-childers-107272.html| work=Politico| date=May 30, 2014| access-date=June 3, 2014}}

{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=Hypothetical polling|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}

With Cochran

With Hosemann

With McDaniel

{{hidden end}}

{{Election box begin| title=2014 United States Senate election in Mississippi{{cite web | url=https://www.sos.ms.gov/elections-voting/election-results/2014-election-results/2014-general-election | title=Mississippi General Election 2014 | publisher=Mississippi Secretary of State | date=November 4, 2014 | access-date=February 20, 2022}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Thad Cochran (incumbent)

| votes = 378,481

| percentage = 59.90%

| change = −1.54%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Travis Childers

| votes = 239,439

| percentage = 37.89%

| change = −0.67%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Reform Party (United States)

| candidate = Shawn O'Hara

| votes = 13,938

| percentage = 2.21%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box total

| votes = 631,858

| percentage = 100.00%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

| winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

• Adams (Largest city: Natchez)

• Benton (largest municipality: Ashland)
• Prentiss (Largest city: Booneville)
• Chickasaw (largest municipality: Okolona)

In the aftermath of the runoff, the McDaniel campaign claimed there were indications of voter fraud.{{cite news|last1=Wagster Pettus|first1=Emmily|title=Home> Politics McDaniel Not Giving up GOP Runoff Against Cochran|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/mcdaniel-giving-gop-runoff-cochran-24386838 |agency=Associated Press|access-date=July 2, 2014|date=July 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703001133/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/mcdaniel-giving-gop-runoff-cochran-24386838|archive-date=July 3, 2014}} A day after the election results were certified by the state party, Senator Ted Cruz and some Tea Party groups backed an investigation of supposed voter fraud in the runoff election.{{cite web|last1=Espo |first1=David|title=Cruz, Tea Party Groups Want Probe of Miss. Runoff|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/miss-gop-certifies-cochran-victory-mcdaniel-24460341|publisher=ABC News |agency=Associated Press|access-date=July 9, 2014}} Cruz also told reporters that groups aligned with the Cochran campaign had run racially charged ads designed to persuade black voters to vote against McDaniel.{{cite web |title=Cruz wants investigation of Cochran-McDaniel runoff results |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/07/08/cruz-wants-investigation-of-cochran-mcdaniel-runoff-results/ |publisher=CNN |access-date=July 9, 2014 |archive-date=July 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712090544/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/07/08/cruz-wants-investigation-of-cochran-mcdaniel-runoff-results/ |url-status=dead }}

McDaniel's legal challenge to the runoff election results failed.{{cite web|title=Chris McDaniel challenge tossed in Mississippi|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2014/08/chris-mcdaniel-challenge-dismissed-mississippi-110453.html#ixzz3BpaK814B|publisher=Politico|access-date=August 30, 2014}}{{cite web|title=McDaniel v. Cochran |url=http://courts.ms.gov/Images/Opinions/CO98646.pdf}} He unsuccessfully ran in the 2018 special election triggered by Cochran's resignation.{{Cite web |date=2018-11-07 |title=The Latest: Mississippi has 3 more weeks of US Senate race |url=https://apnews.com/senate-elections-united-states-senate-general-news-6000fd9726d34e9cb3c3194e872262cf |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=AP News |language=en}}

{{Portal|United States|Politics|Mississippi}}

• 2014 United States Senate elections
• 2014 United States elections

{{Clear}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://ballotpedia.org/United_States_Senate_elections_in_Mississippi,_2014 U.S. Senate elections in Mississippi, 2014] at Ballotpedia
• [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=MSS1&cycle=2014 Campaign contributions] at OpenSecrets

{{2014 United States elections}}

2014

Mississippi

United States Senate