Mike Espy
{{short description|American politician (born 1953)}}
{{About|the American politician|his son, a former American football player|Mike Espy (American football)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Mike Espy
|image = Mike Espy 20120223-OCE-RBN-1281 (cropped 2).jpg
|caption = Espy in 2012
|office = 25th United States Secretary of Agriculture
|president = Bill Clinton
|term_start = January 22, 1993
|term_end = December 31, 1994
|predecessor = Edward Madigan
|successor = Dan Glickman
|state1 = Mississippi
|district1 = {{ushr|MS|2|2nd}}
|term_start1 = January 3, 1987
|term_end1 = January 22, 1993
|predecessor1 = Webb Franklin
|successor1 = Bennie Thompson
|birth_name = Alphonso Michael Espy
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|11|30}}
|birth_place = Yazoo City, Mississippi, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Democratic
|spouse = Portia Ballard
|children = 3
|relatives = Chuck Espy (nephew)
Henry Espy (brother)
|education = Howard University (BA)
Santa Clara University (JD)
|website = {{URL|espyforsenate.com|Campaign website}}
}}
Alphonso Michael Espy (born November 30, 1953){{cite web |last=Applebome |first=Peter |date=1992-12-25 |title=THE TRANSITION; Clinton's Last Selections for the Cabinet Reflect His Quest for Diversity |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/25/us/transition-clinton-s-last-selections-for-cabinet-reflect-his-quest-for-diversity-653292.html |accessdate=2020-06-28}} is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 25th United States secretary of agriculture from 1993 to 1994. He was both the first African American and the first person from the Deep South to hold the position. A member of the Democratic Party, Espy previously served as the U.S. representative for Mississippi's 2nd congressional district from 1987 to 1993.
In March 2018, Espy announced his candidacy for the United States Senate seat being vacated by Thad Cochran. Espy placed second in the November 6 nonpartisan special election before facing Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith in a November 27 runoff. Espy lost the runoff, but garnered more than 46% of the vote in what was the closest U.S. Senate election in Mississippi since 1988. He was the Democratic nominee again in the 2020 election and lost to Hyde-Smith by ten percentage points.
Early life and education
Espy was born in Yazoo City, Mississippi. He is the grandson of Thomas J. Huddleston Sr., founder of the Afro-American Sons and Daughters, a fraternal society that operated the Afro-American Hospital, a leading provider of health care for black people in the state from the 1920s to the 1970s. Espy attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., and was active in student politics, holding several elective positions. He earned his Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University School of Law in California in 1978.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} He currently serves on the board of directors of the Mississippi Center for Justice.
Career
=Early years=
Espy was an attorney with Central Mississippi Legal Services between 1978 and 1980 and was later the Assistant Secretary of State to Mississippi Legal Services. From 1980 to 1984, he was the Assistant Secretary of the State to the Public Lands Division.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}
Espy was an Assistant State Attorney General from 1984 to 1985.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}
=Congress and the Secretary of Agriculture=
File:Mike Espy, Official Portrait, 101st Congress.png
In November 1986, Espy was elected as a Democrat to the 100th Congress from {{ushr|MS|2}}. He defeated two-term Republican Webb Franklin to become the first African-American to represent Mississippi at the federal level since the Reconstruction era,{{Cite news |last=Hall |first=Carla |date=December 19, 1986 |title=Espy's Mississippi Milestone |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1986/12/19/espys-mississippi-milestone/c217c9b1-9289-435f-b1ff-092a94077495/ |access-date=March 18, 2018}} a position once held by Mississippi Republican Senator Hiram Revels in 1870-1871. Espy was reelected three times.
In December 1992, Espy was chosen by President-elect Bill Clinton to be the Secretary of Agriculture in the new administration.{{Cite news |last=Locin |first=Mitchell |date=December 25, 1992 |title=Clinton Finishes Cabinet Of Diversity |work=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/12/25/clinton-finishes-cabinet-of-diversity/ |access-date=March 18, 2018}} Following his confirmation by the Senate in late January 1993, Espy resigned from his seat in the House of Representatives.
The first African American and first person from the Deep South to hold the position, Espy served as Secretary of Agriculture from 1993 to 1994. He announced his resignation in October 1994, following questions from the White House over his use of government perks and acceptance of gifts.{{Cite news |last1=Devroy |first1=Ann |last2=Schmidt |first2=Susan |date=October 4, 1994 |title=Agriculture Secretary Espy Resigns |page=A01 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/counsels/stories/espy100494.htm |access-date=March 18, 2018}} He was indicted in 1997 for receiving improper gifts, but acquitted of all 30 charges in 1998.{{Cite news |last=Lewis |first=Neil A. |date=December 3, 1998 |title=Espy is Acquitted on Gifts Received While in Cabinet |work=New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/03/us/espy-is-acquitted-on-gifts-received-while-in-cabinet.html |access-date=November 29, 2018}}
In October 2007, Espy crossed party lines to endorse Republican Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour's reelection campaign.{{Cite news |last=Kittredge |first=Brett |date=October 10, 2007 |title=Text of Mike Espy's Endorsement of Haley Barbour |publisher=Majority in Mississippi |url=http://majorityinms.com/2007/10/17/text-of-mike-espy%e2%80%99s-endorsement-of-haley-barbour/ |access-date=November 12, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112072827/http://majorityinms.com/2007/10/17/text-of-mike-espy%E2%80%99s-endorsement-of-haley-barbour/ |archive-date=November 12, 2007}}
=Private law career=
In 2008, Espy became an attorney at Morgan & Morgan, a nationwide law firm, where he handles general plaintiff's law, mass tort, bond and governmental finance, and international relations cases. One of his notable cases was the Pigford lawsuit, where Espy worked in conjunction with a black farmers' advocacy group, the National Black Farmers Association, to represent those farmers.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}}
=Senate campaigns=
==2018==
{{main|2018 United States Senate special election in Mississippi}}
On March 5, 2018, Republican Senator Thad Cochran announced he would resign as of April 1 for health reasons, triggering a special election. Espy announced his intention to run for the seat that same day, becoming the first declared candidate in the race.{{Cite web |title=Espy announces run for Cochran Senate seat |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2018/03/05/espy-announces-run-cochran-senate-seat/397589002/ |access-date=March 6, 2018 |website=Clarion Ledger}}{{Cite web |last=McCarthy, Waverly |date=March 5, 2018 |title=Mike Espy to run for Thad Cochran's Senate seat |url=http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/37652112/mike-espy-to-run-for-thad-cochrans-senate-seat |access-date=March 5, 2018 |publisher=Mississippi News Now}}{{Cite web |date=March 5, 2018 |title=The Latest: Former ag secretary Espy running for Senate |url=http://www.sacbee.com/news/business/article203627154.html |access-date=March 5, 2018 |newspaper=The Sacramento Bee}} “It’s official. I’m running to be Mississippi’s next U.S. Senator. Too many people here can’t find a decent job, rural hospitals are closing, and the price for education is just too high,” Espy said in a tweet on Tuesday.[https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/13/politics/espy-hyde-smith-mississippi-senate-run/index.html] He called Cochran "a person I admire and respect, and who has done so much for Mississippi over his tenure."{{Cite web |last=L, Megha |date=March 6, 2018 |title=Who Is Mike Espy? Thad Cochran's Senate Seat Bid By Clinton-Era Official |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/who-mike-espy-thad-cochrans-senate-seat-bid-clinton-era-official-2660129 |access-date=March 5, 2018 |newspaper=International Business Times}}
In 2018, CBS described Espy as a conservative Democrat.{{Cite news |title=The big seven races that will (probably) decide who controls the Senate |language=en |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-big-seven-races-that-will-probably-decide-who-controls-the-senate/ |access-date=June 26, 2018}} He has identified his positions as moderate,{{Cite news |last=Elliott |first=David |title=Senatorial candidate Mike Espy says he'll 'Put Mississippi First' |language=en |url=http://www.wlox.com/story/38504808/senatorial-candidate-mike-espy-says-hell-put-mississippi-first |access-date=June 26, 2018}} making a centrist pitch for his Senate campaign.{{Cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Sean |date=April 6, 2018 |title=Democrat Mike Espy announces bid for Senate seat in Mississippi |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/democrat-mike-espy-announces-bid-for-senate-seat-in-mississippi/2018/04/06/e7026f36-39c0-11e8-9c0a-85d477d9a226_story.html |access-date=July 1, 2018 |issn=0190-8286}} The Clarion Ledger wrote that Espy sought to "play up his bipartisan credentials, like endorsing former Republican Gov. Haley Barbour. Steer the conversation away from anything controversial, even race, and back to health care."{{Cite news |title=A look at Mike Espy before US Senate runoff: People over party, keeping head down |language=en |work=The Clarion Ledger |url=https://eu.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2018/11/25/where-does-mike-espy-stand-ahead-ms-sen-runoff-mississippi-elections/2012667002/ |access-date=November 25, 2018}} When asked by MSNBC's Chris Matthews to comment on President Trump's criticism of several African-American journalists, Espy "refused to bite", instead redirecting the interview to health care.
A nonpartisan special election took place on November 6, 2018, the same day as the regularly scheduled U.S. Senate election for the seat held by Roger Wicker, who was running for reelection. Party affiliations were not printed on the ballot.{{Cite news |last=Rakich |first=Nathaniel |date=March 6, 2018 |title=How Things Could Go Wrong For Republicans In Mississippi's New Senate Race |work=FiveThirtyEight |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-things-could-go-wrong-for-republicans-in-mississippis-new-senate-race/ |access-date=April 28, 2018}} After no candidate gained a simple majority of the vote,{{Cite news |date=November 7, 2018 |title=The Latest: Mississippi has 3 more weeks of US Senate race |work=AP NEWS |url=https://www.apnews.com/6000fd9726d34e9cb3c3194e872262cf |access-date=November 8, 2018}} a runoff election between Espy and Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith was held on November 27.{{Cite news |title=2018 Elections Calendar - Mississippi Secretary of State |language=en-US |url=http://www.sos.ms.gov/Elections-Voting/Documents/2018%20Website%20Calendar.pdf |access-date=October 30, 2018 |archive-date=November 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109202805/http://www.sos.ms.gov/Elections-Voting/Documents/2018%20Website%20Calendar.pdf |url-status=dead }} Espy lost the runoff with 46% of the vote.{{Cite news |date=November 28, 2018 |title=GOP Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith Wins Runoff in Mississippi |publisher=Bloomberg News |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-11-28/ap-newsalert-gop-us-sen-cindy-hyde-smith-wins-runoff-in-mississippi-keeps-seat-race-was-rocked-by-her-public-hanging |access-date=November 29, 2018}}
==2020==
{{main|2020 United States Senate election in Mississippi}}
Three days after losing the Senate special election runoff to Hyde-Smith, on November 30, 2018, his 65th birthday, Espy filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to run for the seat again in 2020.{{Cite web |last=Greenwood |first=Max |date=November 30, 2018 |title=Espy files to run for Senate in 2020, setting up possible rematch with Hyde-Smith |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/419174-espy-files-to-run-for-senate-in-2020-setting-up-possible-rematch-with-hyde |access-date=November 30, 2018 |website=The Hill |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130233401/https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/419174-espy-files-to-run-for-senate-in-2020-setting-up-possible-rematch-with-hyde |archive-date= November 30, 2018 |url-status=live}} He lost the general election again with 44% of the vote.{{cite web|url=https://sos.ms.gov/elections/electionresults/2020General/Statewide%20Certified%20Results/US%20Senate.pdf|title=State of Mississippi OFFICIAL 2020 GENERAL ELECTION CERTIFIED RESULTS|publisher=State of Mississippi Secretary of State|accessdate=December 14, 2020}}
Political positions
=Economy=
National Journal noted that his liberal social views are mixed with his support for cutting the federal budget and protecting Mississippi's defense and agricultural industries.{{Cite news |title=Can Mike Espy Win in Mississippi? {{!}} Tribune Content Agency (April 13, 2018) |language=en-US |work=Tribune Content Agency |url=https://tribunecontentagency.com/article/can-mike-espy-win-in-mississippi/ |url-status=dead |access-date=July 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701140154/https://tribunecontentagency.com/article/can-mike-espy-win-in-mississippi/ |archive-date=July 1, 2018}} In 2018, Espy said that he wanted to cut the government's budget and that he supports free trade.{{Cite news |title=Senator candidate Mike Espy aims for Mississippi's African-American base |language=en-US |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/senator-candidate-mike-espy-aims-191313975.html |access-date=June 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627034436/https://sports.yahoo.com/senator-candidate-mike-espy-aims-191313975.html |archive-date=June 27, 2018 |url-status=live}} He said he probably would have voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 but that he wants to "make sure people see the benefits".
=Guns=
Espy supports gun ownership and received the National Rifle Association of America's (NRA) Silver Rifle Award in 1988 for supporting its positions on gun laws.{{Cite news |last=Willis |first=Jay |date=November 13, 2018 |title=How a Democrat Could Swipe a Senate Seat in Deep-Red Mississippi |language=en |work=GQ |url=https://www.gq.com/story/mississippi-senate-race-runoff |access-date=November 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114100559/https://www.gq.com/story/mississippi-senate-race-runoff |archive-date=November 14, 2018 |url-status=live}} In 2018, the NRA endorsed Espy's opponent, Cindy Hyde-Smith, for the U.S. Senate, and did not give Espy a rating.{{Cite news |title=In Mississippi, Republican concern rises over a U.S. Senate runoff that should have been a romp |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-mississippi-republican-concern-rises-over-a-us-senate-runoff-that-should-have-been-a-romp/2018/11/17/fcfa8b24-e9d9-11e8-bbdb-72fdbf9d4fed_story.html |access-date=November 19, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en-US}} In 2019, Espy, who had announced his candidacy for Hyde-Smith's seat, said that her objection to a unanimous consent motion to adopt a House gun control bill, causing the bill to go through the usual committee process, was "a failure of leadership that puts our children's lives in danger."{{Cite web |title=House background check bill will move to Senate committee after Hyde-Smith objects to fast tracking |date=November 14, 2019 |url=https://yallpolitics.com/2019/11/14/house-background-check-bill-will-move-to-senate-committee-after-hyde-smith-objects-to-fast-tracking}}
=Health care=
Espy believes that the decision by Republicans to deny an expansion of Medicaid is why so many rural hospitals in Mississippi have closed.{{Cite web |title=Aiming for Alabama-like Victory, Espy Opens 'Modern' Campaign Headquarters {{!}} JFP Mobile {{!}} Jackson, Mississippi |url=http://m.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2018/aug/28/aiming-alabama-victory-espy-opens-modern-campaign-/?templates=mobile |access-date=October 26, 2018 |website=m.jacksonfreepress.com |language=en}}
= Immigration =
Espy opposes a border wall, citing cost concerns. He opposes the Trump administration's family separation policy.
= Social issues =
In 1986, running for Congress, Espy was considered pro-choice on abortion.{{Cite news |last=Greenhouse |first=Linda |title=WASHINGTON TALK; A Turning Point On the Abortion Issue? |language=en |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/11/13/us/washington-talk-a-turning-point-on-the-abortion-issue.html |access-date=June 26, 2018}} In 2018, he said he was moderate on abortion; he supports Roe v. Wade but opposes abortion personally.{{Cite news |title=What you need to know about Mississippi's special Senate race, candidates |language=en |work=The Clarion Ledger |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/11/05/what-you-need-know-mississippis-special-senate-race-candidates/1661113002/ |access-date=November 14, 2018}} Espy said during his Senate campaign that he would work with anyone regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.{{Cite news |last=Elliott |first=David |title=Senatorial candidate Mike Espy says he'll 'Put Mississippi First' |language=en |url=http://www.fox19.com/story/38504808/senatorial-candidate-mike-espy-says-hell-put-mississippi-first |access-date=June 26, 2018}}
Corruption trial and acquittal
On August 27, 1997, Espy was indicted on charges of receiving improper gifts, including sports tickets, lodging, and airfare. Espy refused to plea bargain and on December 2, 1998, he was acquitted of all 30 criminal charges in the trial. Independent Counsel Donald Smaltz presented more than 70 witnesses during the trial and spent more than $20 million preparing and trying the case.{{Cite web |title=OIC Smaltz: Final Report |url=http://www.oic.gov/SMALTZ/FnlRpt.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030602172920/http://www.oic.gov/SMALTZ/FnlRpt.htm |archive-date=June 2, 2003 |access-date=May 3, 2003}}
During testimony before the jury, the prosecution's star witness told Smaltz: "God knows, if I had $30 million, I could find dirt on you, sir."{{Cite web |title=Was this a bad idea? - December 14, 1998 |url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/time/1998/12/07/independant.council.html |website=www.cnn.com}} During the trial, Smaltz protested that the defense was injecting race into the trial in what he saw as an appeal to a mostly black jury.
The defense rested without calling any witnesses, arguing simply that the prosecution had not proved its case. The jury deliberated less than 10 hours before finding Espy not guilty on all charges. One of the jurors said, "This was the weakest, most bogus thing I ever saw. I can't believe Mr. Smaltz ever brought this to trial." At least four other jurors echoed this view, though less pointedly.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/counsels/stories/espy120498.htm Espy Acquitted in Gifts Case]. Washingtonpost.com (December 5, 1998). Retrieved on September 14, 2011. Barbara Bisoni, the only white juror, said Smaltz's case "had holes" and that race never entered into the deliberations.
=Related cases=
In 1996, Sun-Diamond Growers was fined $1.5 million for giving Espy $6,000 in gifts; in March 1998 it won a reversal at the Court of Appeals level.[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-mar-21-fi-31106-story.html Court Sets Aside Fine Against Sun-Diamond], Los Angeles Times, March 21, 1998 Independent Counsel Smaltz appealed that ruling to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeals, finding that the gratuities statute requires a link between a gift and an official act. Unable to make such a link, Smaltz dismissed the gratuities charge against Sun-Diamond. The court's unanimous April 1999 opinion, by Justice Antonin Scalia, stated that the prosecutor's interpretation of the law was so broad that even a high school principal could be in legal trouble for giving a souvenir baseball cap to a visiting Secretary of Education.[http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/04/27/scotus.espy/ Supreme Court rules Sun Diamond Growers did not violate federal law in Espy case - April 27, 1999]. Cnn.com (April 27, 1999). Retrieved on September 14, 2011. The Sun-Diamond decision played a pivotal role in Espy's later acquittal because Smaltz was unable to link gifts he received to any official act.
In a separate case during the same investigation, Espy's Chief of Staff, Ronald Blackley, was convicted in late 1997 on three counts of making false statements{{Cite news |last=Stout |first=David |date=June 6, 1999 |title=Prosecution That Spared Espy Leaves a Top Aide in Ruins |language=en |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/06/us/prosecution-that-spared-espy-leaves-a-top-aide-in-ruins.html |access-date=November 12, 2018}} and sentenced to 27 months in prison.{{Cite web |title=Donald Smaltz - Ron Blackley - Secrets Of An Independent Counsel - FRONTLINE - PBS |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/counsel/smaltz/blackley.html |website=www.pbs.org}}
Controversy also arose in 1994 from a White House discovery that a foundation run by Tyson Foods had given Espy's then girlfriend, Patricia Dempsey, a $1,200 scholarship. Administration officials said that the discovery of this scholarship was what forced Espy to resign as Secretary of Agriculture. In December 1997, Tyson Foods pleaded guilty to felony charges of giving Espy gifts.M. Alex Johnson, [https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna7231900 Walking the walk, on the assembly line], NBC News, March 24, 2005
Personal life
He married Sheila Bell, with whom he had two children before they divorced.{{Cite web |title=ESPY, Alphonso Michael (Mike) |url=https://history.house.gov/People/Listing/E/ESPY,-Alphonso-Michael-(Mike)-(E000218)/ |access-date=17 December 2018 |publisher=United States House of Representatives}} Espy married Portia Ballard in 1999.{{Cite news |last1=Barron |first1=James |last2=Kilgannon |first2=Corey |date=April 27, 1999 |title=Public Lives |work=New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/04/27/nyregion/public-lives.html |access-date=17 December 2018}}
Electoral history
class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em;"
|+ Mississippi's 2nd congressional district: results 1986–1992 |
bgcolor=#cccccc
!colspan=24 style="background: #ccccff;" |Election results |
Year
! !Democrat !Votes !% ! !Republican !Votes !% ! !Other !Party !Votes !% ! |
---|
1986{{Cite web |date=May 1987 |title=Federal Elections 86: Election Results for U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives |url=https://transition.fec.gov/pubrec/fe1986/federalelections86.pdf |access-date=March 18, 2018 |website=Federal Election Commission |page=57}}
| |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Mike Espy |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |73,119 |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |51.71% | |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Webb Franklin |{{Party shading/Republican}} |68,292 |{{Party shading/Republican}} |48.29% | | | | | |
1988{{Cite web |date=June 1988 |title=Federal Elections 88: Election Results for U.S. President, U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives |url=https://transition.fec.gov/pubrec/fe1988/federalelections88.pdf |access-date=March 18, 2018 |website=Federal Election Commission |page=51}}
| |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Mike Espy |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |112,401 |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |64.74% | |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Jack Coleman |{{Party shading/Republican}} |59,827 |{{Party shading/Republican}} |34.46% | |{{Party shading/Independent}} |Dorothy Benford |{{Party shading/Independent}} |Independent |{{Party shading/Independent}} |1,403 |{{Party shading/Independent}} |0.81% |
1990{{Cite web |date=April 1991 |title=Federal Elections 90: Election Results for U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives |url=https://transition.fec.gov/pubrec/fe1990/federalelections90.pdf |access-date=March 18, 2018 |website=Federal Election Commission |page=31}}
| |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Mike Espy |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |59,393 |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |84.11% | |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Dorothy Benford |{{Party shading/Republican}} |11,224 |{{Party shading/Republican}} |11.89% | | | | | |
1992{{Cite web |date=June 1993 |title=Federal Elections 92: Election Results for U.S. President, U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives |url=https://transition.fec.gov/pubrec/fe1992/federalelections92.pdf |access-date=March 18, 2018 |website=Federal Election Commission |page=72}}
| |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Mike Espy |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |135,162 |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |77.97% | |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Dorothy Benford |{{Party shading/Republican}} |38,191 |{{Party shading/Republican}} |22.03% | | | | | |
= Senate results =
{{Election box begin no change|title = United States Senate special election in Mississippi, 2018{{cite web|title=2018 Mississippi special election results|url=http://www.sos.ms.gov/Elections-Voting/Pages/2018-General-Election-Runoff.aspx|access-date=10 June 2019|archive-date=May 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510235202/https://www.sos.ms.gov/Elections-Voting/Pages/2018-General-Election-Runoff.aspx|url-status=dead}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate no change
| candidate = Cindy Hyde-Smith (incumbent)
| party = Nonpartisan
| votes = 389,995
| percentage = 41.25%
}}
{{Election box winning candidate no change
| candidate = Mike Espy
| party = Nonpartisan
| votes = 386,742
| percentage = 40.90%
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
| candidate = Chris McDaniel
| party = Nonpartisan
| votes = 154,878
| percentage = 16.38%
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
| candidate = Tobey Bartee
| party = Nonpartisan
| votes = 13,852
| percentage = 1.47%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 945,467
| percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
| title = United States Senate special election runoff in Mississippi, 2018}}
{{Election box winning candidate
| candidate = Cindy Hyde-Smith (incumbent)
| party = Nonpartisan
| votes = 486,769
| percentage = 53.63%
| change = -6.27%
}}
{{Election box candidate
| candidate = Mike Espy
| party = Nonpartisan
| votes = 420,819
| percentage = 46.37%
| change = +8.48%
}}
{{Election box total
| votes = 907,588
| percentage = 100%
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=United States Senate election in Mississippi, 2020{{cite web|url=https://sos.ms.gov/elections/electionresults/2020General/Statewide%20Certified%20Results/US%20Senate.pdf|title=State of Mississippi OFFICIAL 2020 GENERAL ELECTION CERTIFIED RESULTS|publisher=State of Mississippi Secretary of State|access-date=December 14, 2020}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Cindy Hyde-Smith (incumbent)
| votes = 709,539
| percentage = 54.10%
| change = +0.47%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Mike Espy
| votes = 578,806
| percentage = 44.13%
| change = -2.24%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| candidate = Jimmy Edwards
| votes = 23,152
| percentage = 1.77%
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box total
| votes = 1,311,497
| percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box end}}
See also
{{Portal bar|Mississippi|Law|Politics|United States}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://espyforsenate.com/ Mike Espy for U.S. Senate] official campaign site
{{CongLinks|votesmart=2142/mike-espy|fec=S8MS00287|congbio=E000218|congress=mike-espy/E000218}}
- {{C-SPAN|2478}}
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{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=Webb Franklin}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Mississippi's 2nd congressional district|years=1987–1993}}
{{s-aft|after=Bennie Thompson}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=Edward Madigan}}
{{s-ttl|title=United States Secretary of Agriculture|years=1993–1994}}
{{s-aft|after=Dan Glickman}}
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{{s-bef|before=Travis Childers}}
{{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Mississippi
(Class 2)|years=2018, 2020}}
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|-
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=Bruce Babbitt|as=Former US Cabinet Member}}
{{s-ttl|title=Order of precedence of the United States
{{small|as Former US Cabinet Member}}|years=}}
{{s-aft|after=Donna Shalala|as=Former US Cabinet Member}}
{{s-end}}
{{USSecAg}}
{{Clinton cabinet}}
{{Special Prosecutors and Independent Counsels of the U.S.}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Espy, Mike}}
Category:African-American members of the Cabinet of the United States
Category:African-American members of the United States House of Representatives
Category:African-American people in Mississippi politics
Category:Candidates in the 2018 United States Senate elections
Category:Candidates in the 2020 United States Senate elections
Category:Clinton administration cabinet members
Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Mississippi
Category:Howard University alumni
Category:People from Yazoo City, Mississippi
Category:Santa Clara University School of Law alumni
Category:Secretaries of agriculture of the United States
Category:African-American candidates for the United States Senate
Category:20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives