Mississippi House of Representatives seat · lines in effect since 2026
Mississippi House District 97
A district of about 28,000 people, 35% Black, 23% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes R+40.0 relative to the nation for president.
2023 election
Nov 7, 2023- Sam Mims (R) · won69.4%
- Ben Thompson (D)30.6%
Source: OpenElections (from MS Secretary of State)Updated Sep 30, 2026, 12:47 PM ET
Where it sits among all 120 seats
Every Mississippi House of Representatives seat by partisan lean, from most Democratic to most Republican. Lean is the seat's presidential vote on current lines, relative to the nation.
Democratic
Source: 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET
Every election for this seat
13 races since 1979. District numbers are redrawn after each census: each group is one set of lines.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Won by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lines first used in 2022 | |||
| 2023 | Sam Mims (R) | Ben Thompson (D) | 38.9 |
| Lines first used in 2012 | |||
| 2019 | Sam Mims (R) | Ben Thompson (D) | 48.2 |
| 2015 | Sam Mims (R) | Kitty Sasser (D) | 36.8 |
| Lines first used in 2002 | |||
| 2011 | Sam Mims (R) | — | Unopposed |
| 2007 | Sam Mims (R) | — | Unopposed |
| 2003 | Sam Mims (R) | Derrick Dahl (D) | 20.2 |
| Lines first used in 1992 | |||
| 1999 | Clem M. Nettles (D) | Robert McEwen Maddox (R) | 20.7 |
| 1995 | Clem M. Nettles (D) | Martin E. Hart (R) | 34.5 |
| 1992 | Clem M. Nettles (D) | Herbert S. Hoff (R) | 21.0 |
| Lines first used in 1982 | |||
| 1991 | Hershal Grady (D) | — | Unopposed |
| 1987 | Thomas Walman (D) | — | Unopposed |
| 1983 | Thomas Walman (D) | James J. Anding (R) | 59.7 |
| Lines first used in 1972 | |||
| 1979 | John F. Hollinger (D) | — | Unopposed |
Primaries: 1979 Democratic primary
Won by: the winner's lead over the runner-up, in points of the vote. Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Districts that overlap District 97
The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 97's area in each.
Every race on these lines
Results recomputed from precinct returns as if today's boundaries had always existed, so years compare like for like.
| 2016 | 2020 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| President | R+43.9 | R+57.3 | R+39.8 |
| U.S. Senate | No race | R+53.3 | R+42.0 |
Outlined: the race for this seat itselfBlank: no race that year
Source: 99chambers results archive: precinct results allocated to current lines; 2026: civicAPIUpdated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Who lives here, compared
Grey bars show the spread of all 120 seats. Small marks are other seats in Mississippi. The black marker is District 97.
Higher than 55% of seats.
Higher than 62% of seats.
Lower than 91% of seats.
Higher than 55% of seats.
Lower than 61% of seats.
Less dense than 64% of seats.
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current linesUpdated Oct 13, 2026, 5:06 AM ET
Seats most like this one
Nearest seats on demographics, density and lean.
District 4638% Black · 23% college gradsR+34.7Not up in 2026District 37
34% Black · 27% college gradsR+34.3Not up in 2026District 35
36% Black · 23% college gradsR+48.1Not up in 2026District 81
31% Black · 20% college gradsR+47.5Not up in 2026
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current lines; 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET