Andy Stepp Explained

Andrew Stepp
State House:Mississippi
District:23rd
Term Start:January 2, 2024
Predecessor:Perry Van Bailey
Party:Republican

Andrew Stepp is an American politician who currently represents the 23rd district in the Mississippi House of Representatives. He was elected in 2023. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Career

Stepp is a pharmacist in Bruce, Mississippi, where he owns the Stepp-Saver Pharmacy.[1] He also serves as a clinical instructor in pharmacy practice at the University of Mississippi.[2] [3]

Political career

Following 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. 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%.[4] 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.[5]

Following his narrow defeat in the special election, Stepp ran as a Republican against Van Bailey in the Republican primary for the 2023 election.[6] Stepp narrowly defeated Van Bailey with 53% of the vote.[7] Stepp won the general election against Democratic candidate Danny Lampley and independent Andy Clark with 71% of the vote.

Personal life

Stepp resides in Bruce, Mississippi. He has 2 daughters and 5 grandchildren. He is a member of the First Baptist Church of Bruce.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Andy Stepp for State Representative . January 8, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240108152808/https://andystepp.com/ . January 8, 2024.
  2. News: Vance . Taylor . Three people qualify for special election to north Mississippi House seat . January 8, 2024 . . November 23, 2022.
  3. Web site: Andrew Stepp . . January 8, 2024.
  4. News: Ford . Craig . Special election for Mississippi House District 23 goes to a runoff . January 8, 2024 . . January 10, 2023.
  5. News: Ford . Craig . Winner determined in runoff for local seat in Mississippi House . January 8, 2024 . . February 8, 2023.
  6. News: Vance . Taylor . Six senators and eight House members in Northeast MS in contested legislative races . January 8, 2024 . . February 6, 2023.
  7. News: Perlis . Wicker . Longtime legislators lost Tuesday, first Black Republican since 1894 elected to MS House . October 30, 2023 . . August 10, 2023 . https://archive.today/20231030101701/https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2023/08/10/legislators-with-nearly-60-years-of-combined-experience-ousted-tuesday/70565339007/ . October 30, 2023.