Patricia H. Willis (born ) 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. Willis won the special election with around 52% of the vote, avoiding the need for a runoff. Willis was sworn in on June 10.
Willis ran as a Republican in the 2015 Mississippi House of Representatives election, winning reelection unopposed.
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. She lost the August 27 runoff, receiving about 41% of the vote.
Personal life As of 2013, Willis resided in Diamondhead, Mississippi. She is an attorney and served as a prosecutor for the city of Waveland.
Electoral history
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