Mississippi Republican Party
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The Mississippi Republican Party is the state affiliate of the national Republican Party.
[edit] History
In 1956, Wirt A. Yerger, Jr. founded the modern Mississippi Republican Party and served as the first State Chairman from 1956 until 1966. He was Chairman of the Mississippi Delegation to the Republican National Convention in 1956, 1960 and 1964. He was elected to a four-year term as Chairman of the Southern Association of Republican State Chairman in 1960. In 2009, the Central Committee of the Mississippi Republican Party named Yerger Chairman Emeritus.
Currently, Brad White serves as State Chairman. Elected Chairman at age 31, White is the youngest State Republican Party Chairman in the nation. White entered Republican Party leadership at the age of 19 when elected Chairman of the Simpson County, Mississippi Republican Executive Committee. White later served as Political Director of the Mississippi Republican Party in 1999 and was elected to the Mississippi Republican Party State Executive Committee in 2004. In 2007, White served as Director of the Mississippi Republican Party's Get Out The Vote Program where seven of eight state wide elected officials became Republicans. In September of 2008 White became Chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party.
Presidential Races
Gubernatorial Races
In 1963, Rubel Phillips became the first Republican nominee for governor in 80 years, challenging then-Lt. Gov. Paul Johnson, Jr. and garnering 38% of the vote. Phillips ran again in 1967 against John Bell Williams but lost again, this time earning 29% of the vote.
State Legislature
[edit] Current Major Office Holders
Federal
Statewide
- Governor Haley Barbour: In 2003, Barbour became only the second Republican elected to the governorship since the end of Reconstruction. He had previously served as chairman of the Republican National Committee when the GOP in 1996 regained majorities in both the US House and Senate for the first time in over 40 years.
- Lt. Governor Phil Bryant: Sworn in as Lt. Governor in January 2008. Formerly Mississippi's State Auditor.
- State Treasurer Tate Reeves: He won a very close race against Democrat Gary Anderson for the open seat. Reeves was just 29 years old at the time of his election, one of the youngest statewide officeholders in the USA.
Legislature
The GOP currently holds a 27-25 edge in the Mississippi Senate. However, they are outnumbered 46-73 (with three vacancies) in the Mississippi House of Representatives.
