99chambers
1971Final results

1971 election for Mississippi House District 31

Mississippi House of Representatives · Mississippi

12 seats: Jim Neal (D), Emmett Owens (D), John Hampton Stennis (D), John Arthur Eaves (D), Don Richardson (D), George R. Ferguson Jr. (D), Horace B. Lester (D), Lamar Kemp (D), Joe G. Moss (D), Charles B. Mitchell (D), James Everett Walters (D), Howard Parkman (D) won.

12 seats
Jim NealDemocrat · winner
8.6%55,522
Emmett OwensDemocrat · winner · incumbent
8.3%53,568
John Hampton StennisDemocrat · winner · incumbent
7.9%51,094
John Arthur EavesDemocrat · winner
7.8%50,136
Don RichardsonDemocrat · winner
7.7%50,044
George R. Ferguson Jr.Democrat · winner · incumbent
7.7%49,977
Horace B. LesterDemocrat · winner · incumbent
7.7%49,778
Lamar KempDemocrat · winner
7.6%49,259
Joe G. MossDemocrat · winner · incumbent
7.4%47,738
Charles B. MitchellDemocrat · winner · incumbent
5.2%33,476
James Everett WaltersDemocrat · winner
5.0%32,525
Howard ParkmanDemocrat · winner
4.6%30,035
Doug HudginsRepublican
3.8%24,559
Roger McGeheeRepublican
2.9%18,946
Jerry L. AinsworthRepublican
2.6%16,516
Jack H. Young Jr.Independent
2.2%13,980
Emma E. SandersIndependent
1.8%11,565
R. P. YorkIndependent
0.7%4,281
Jacquie KennedyIndependent
0.5%2,937
M. M. GavantIndependent
0.1%744
646,680 votes

Source: Harvard Dataverse / Carl KlarnerUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:29 AM ET

The seat over time

D − R margin in this seat's races around 1971

Races before and after

EvenD+10.01971D+40.31975

Source: Harvard Dataverse / Carl KlarnerUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:29 AM ET

The candidates

Jim Neal (D)Emmett Owens (D)John Hampton Stennis (D)John Arthur Eaves (D)Don Richardson (D)George R. Ferguson Jr. (D)Horace B. Lester (D)Lamar Kemp (D)Joe G. Moss (D)Charles B. Mitchell (D)James Everett Walters (D)

Also on the ballot: Howard Parkman (Democrat), 4.6%; Doug Hudgins (Republican), 3.8%; Roger McGehee (Republican), 2.9%; Jerry L. Ainsworth (Republican), 2.6%; Jack H. Young Jr. (Independent), 2.2%; Emma E. Sanders (Independent), 1.8%; R. P. York (Independent), 0.7%; Jacquie Kennedy (Independent), 0.5%; M. M. Gavant (Independent), 0.1%