Bo Eaton met rival Mark Tullos to draw straws and the Republican drew the shorter one.
The Democrat’s fateful grasp of the longer straw gave him the victory, keeping Republicans from having a supermajority in the state house.
Mark Tullos, not admitting defeat, filed an appeal on November 20.
Bo Eaton, a farmer, said after winning: “There’s always happiness in a good crop year.”
Mark Tullos apparently left the room quickly and did not show emotion.
Bo Eaton, a 20-year incumbent, had said he did not approve of the straw-drawing, but he would accept the results.
“Look, my life’s a gamble,” he said, according to the New York Times.
“I’m a farmer. I depend on the weather and the rain. The statute’s clear, but my life is not.”
Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant presided over the short straw-drawing ceremony.
Each candidate had received 4,589 votes in the legislative election for the House seat.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 24 states legally decide the outcome of tied legislative elections by drawing straws or flipping coins.
Similar cases have happened in New Mexico and Alaska, using a coin toss.
Connecticut decided in 2007 to eliminate chance games for breaking ties, a year after a coin toss determined a state house election.
Image source: Wikimedia Commons President-elect Donald Trump celebrated his election victory at the Ultimate Fighting…
Millions of voters across the US chose to return Donald Trump to the White House…
Donald Trump declares victory in the US election as he addresses jubilant supporters in Florida.…
Stocks around the world are rising as Donald Trump appears to be on the cusp…
Donald Trump has won Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia and taken a lead over Kamala…
Quincy Jones, the celebrated musician and producer who worked with Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Ray…