Andrew Earl Stepp (June 23, 1958 – December 5, 2024) was an American politician who represented the 23rd district in the Mississippi House of Representatives from January to December 2024, when he died in office. He was elected in 2023. He was a member of the Republican Party.
Andy Stepp | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from the 23rd district | |
| In office January 2, 2024 – December 5, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Perry Van Bailey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 23, 1958 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | December 5, 2024 (aged 66) Bruce, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Profession | Pharmacist |
Early life
editBorn in Memphis, Tennessee, and a graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy,[1] Stepp was a pharmacist in Bruce, Mississippi, where he owned the Stepp-Saver Pharmacy.[2] He also served as a clinical instructor in pharmacy practice at the University of Mississippi.[3][4]
Political career
editFollowing the resignation of Charles Beckett from representing the 23rd district in the Mississippi House of Representatives on September 22, 2022, to become the executive director of the Mississippi Public Utilities Staff, Stepp ran in the special election to replace him. He faced Perry Van Bailey and Andy Clark, both farmers from Calhoun County.[3] The election was held on January 10. Andy Stepp received 48.49% of the votes, but as no candidate received 50%, continued to a runoff against Bailey, who had received 38.05%.[5] The runoff was held on January 31. The results were extremely close, and the race was only decided on February 8, with certified results showing Bailey defeating Stepp by 7 votes.[6]
Following his narrow defeat in the special election, Stepp ran as a Republican against Van Bailey in the Republican primary for the 2023 election.[7] Stepp narrowly defeated Van Bailey with 53% of the vote.[8] Stepp won the general election against Democratic candidate Danny Lampley and independent Andy Clark with 71% of the vote.[9]
Personal life and death
editStepp resided in Bruce, Mississippi.[2] He had two daughters and five grandchildren. Stepp was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bruce.[2] He died on December 5, 2024, at the age of 66.[10][1]
Electoral history
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Andrew Stepp | 1,142 | 48.41 | |
| Nonpartisan | Perry Van Bailey | 900 | 38.15 | |
| Nonpartisan | Andy Clark | 317 | 13.44 | |
| Total votes | 2,359 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Perry Van Bailey | 1,195 | 50.15 | ||
| Nonpartisan | Andrew Stepp | 1,188 | 49.85 | ||
| Total votes | 2,383 | 100.0 | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Andrew Stepp | 3,135 | 53.18 | |
| Republican | Perry Van Bailey (incumbent) | 2,760 | 46.82 | |
| Total votes | 5,895 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Andrew Stepp | 5,829 | 71.91 | |
| Democratic | Danny Lampley | 1,283 | 15.83 | |
| Independent | Andy Clark | 994 | 12.26 | |
| Total votes | 8,106 | 100.0 | ||
References
edit- ^ a b "Andrew Earl Stepp". Parker Memorial Funeral Home. December 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Andy Stepp for State Representative". Archived from the original on January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
- ^ a b Vance, Taylor (November 23, 2022). "Three people qualify for special election to north Mississippi House seat". Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
- ^ "Andrew Stepp". The University of Mississippi. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
- ^ Ford, Craig (January 10, 2023). "Special election for Mississippi House District 23 goes to a runoff". WTVA. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
- ^ Ford, Craig (February 8, 2023). "Winner determined in runoff for local seat in Mississippi House". WTVA. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
- ^ Vance, Taylor (February 6, 2023). "Six senators and eight House members in Northeast MS in contested legislative races". Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
- ^ Perlis, Wicker (August 10, 2023). "Longtime legislators lost Tuesday, first Black Republican since 1894 elected to MS House". The Clarion-Ledger. Archived from the original on October 30, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ a b "Official Tabulation of November 7, 2023, General Election - Votes Cast for State District Offices and Multi-County Legislative District Offices" (PDF). Mississippi Secretary of State. December 5, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
- ^ Calhoun County lawmaker Andy Stepp dies at 66
- ^ a b c "Perry Van Bailey". Ballotpedia. Retrieved October 29, 2023.