Patricia H. Willis
Patricia H. Willis | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from the 95th district | |
| In office June 10, 2013[1] – January 7, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Jessica Upshaw |
| Succeeded by | Jay McKnight |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1952 or 1953 (age 73–74) |
| Party | Republican |
Patricia H. Willis (born 1952 or 1953[2]) is an American politician who served as a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from the 95th district from 2013 to 2020. A Republican, she was first elected in a 2013 special election, reelected in 2015, and lost renomination in 2019. Her district covered parts of Harrison and Hancock counties.
Political career
On March 24, 2013, 95th district state representative Jessica Upshaw was found dead of an apparent gunshot suicide. A special election was scheduled for May 28, 2013, to fill the seat for the remainder of Upshaw's term. The district contains parts of Harrison and Hancock counties. Willis ran in the special election, facing three other candidates: Tommy Ballard, Sherri Carr Bevis, and Grant Bower. State legislative elections in Mississippi are officially nonpartisan, with a runoff election held if neither candidate receives a majority of the vote.[3] Willis won the special election with around 52% of the vote, avoiding the need for a runoff.[2] Willis was sworn in on June 10.[1]
Willis ran as a Republican in the 2015 Mississippi House of Representatives election, winning reelection unopposed.[4][5]
In the 2019 Mississippi House of Representatives election, Willis was challenged in the Republican primary by three other candidates: Jay McKnight, Nancy Depreo, and Robert Dambrino. In the primary, held on August 6, she was forced into a runoff against McKnight, receiving only about 29% of the primary vote.[6] She lost the August 27 runoff, receiving about 41% of the vote.[7]
Personal life
As of 2013, Willis resided in Diamondhead, Mississippi. She is an attorney and served as a prosecutor for the city of Waveland.[2]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Patricia H. Willis | 1,014 | 52.48 | |
| Nonpartisan | Sherri Carr Bevis | 740 | 38.30 | |
| Nonpartisan | Grant Bower | 114 | 5.90 | |
| Nonpartisan | Tommy Ballard | 64 | 3.31 | |
| Total votes | 1,932 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Patricia H. Willis (incumbent) | 3,936 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 3,936 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Patricia H. Willis (incumbent) | 4,351 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 4,351 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jay McKnight | 2,218 | 39.90 | |
| Republican | Patricia H. Willis (incumbent) | 1,633 | 29.38 | |
| Republican | Nancy Depreo | 1,209 | 21.75 | |
| Republican | Robert Dambrino | 8.98 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 5,559 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jay McKnight | 2,791 | 59.32 | |
| Republican | Patricia H. Willis (incumbent) | 1,914 | 40.68 | |
| Total votes | 4,705 | 100.0 | ||
References
- 1 2 "Willis sworn in as new state representative". Diamondhead: WLOX. June 10, 2013. Archived from the original on March 31, 2026. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Newsom, Michael (May 28, 2013). "Willis takes House 95 race in South Mississippi". Sun Herald. Archived from the original on June 9, 2013.
- ↑ Newsom, Michael (April 29, 2013). "Three from Diamondhead, one from Gulfport, enter House 95 race". Gulfport: Sun Herald. Archived from the original on May 3, 2013.
- 1 2 "2015 Republican Primary Certified Results" (PDF). Mississippi Secretary of State. August 14, 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 7, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
- 1 2 "Official Tabulation of November 3, 2015 General Election Votes Cast for State Offices and Legislative Offices Composed of One County" (PDF). Mississippi Secretary of State. December 3, 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 7, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
- 1 2 "2019 State Republican Party Certified Primary Election Results" (PDF). Mississippi Secretary of State. August 16, 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 31, 2026. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
- 1 2 "2019 State Republican Party Certified Primary Runoff Results" (PDF). Mississippi Secretary of State. September 6, 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 31, 2026. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
- ↑ "Certification of Vote for Special Election State House District 95" (PDF). Mississippi Secretary of State. May 29, 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 15, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2026.