REPUBLICANS GATHER AS 2027 GOVERNOR'S RACE TAKES SHAPE

Three stalwart Republican politicians head a substantial field of candidates running for Mississippi governor in 2027. Brandon Presley is a likely Democratic candidate again.

In 2023, Presley made a significant run against Republican Gov. Tate Reeves, losing 51-percent to 48-percent. Reeves is term-limited from being governor again.

It's time for Democrats considering the race to declare their plans. There's only 14 months left and myriad issues lingering until the election. Some believe former attorney general Jim Hood might enter the race. Hood lost to Reeves in 2019.

The last Democrat elected Mississippi governor was Ronnie Musgrove, 2000-2004. He defeated U.S. Rep. Mike Parker to win the office. Musgrove succeeded twice-elected Republican Kirk Fordice.

The lack of announced Democrats is in sharp contrast to the gathering bunch of Republicans trying to succeed Reeves, whose state government retirement check has grown exponentially after serving as state treasurer, lieutenant governor and governor, covering 24 year's service to the state.

Currently, the trio of announced Republican candidates for the Aug. 3, 2027, primary for governor includes: State Attorney General Lynn Fitch, seeking to become the state's first female governor; State Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson; and former House Speaker Philip Gunn.

We're awaiting final decisions on whether to run from Lieutenant Gov. Delbert Hosemann, billionaire Columbia businessman Thomas Duff and State Auditor Shad White.

Most Mississippians for years have been expecting to see Hosemann on the ballot for governor. The 79-year-old Vicksburg native practiced law for 30 years before winning a 2007 race for Secretary of State, a campaign remembered for a television ad featuring an elderly citizen having trouble pronouncing his name. He also employed the effective ad in later campaigns and likely would in a new race.

It seems forgotten that Hosemann was once a Democrat and that he twice lost Republican primaries for the 4th District seat in Congress. He also began a race for attorney general in the early 2000's before withdrawing.

Hosemann, who easily would carry the largest share of name recognition into a 2027 bid for governor, served 12 years as secretary of state until he was elected lieutenant governor in 2019. He won reelection in 2023.

Reeves and Hosemann have endured a mixed executive relationship, particularly on the Medicaid healthcare program. Reeves has staved off pressure from myriad groups to expand the rolls to include another 200,000-plus citizens, while Hosemann has pushed to expand the federal-state program.

Hosemann has maintained a progressive record, including giving state teachers their largest-ever pay increase. He aided Reeves on a big tax cut. Hoseman helped to create a new public school funding formula and plotted for a new state flag, approved by voters in a 2020 referendum.

His 20 years of seasoned management of the Senate provides Hosemann a distinct electability advantage, but each of the four announced candidates brings merit to the race.

Fitch, through successful representation of the state in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case, is considered by many as the architect behind the U.S. Supreme Court's ultimate decision in 2022 to overturn Roe v. Wade, which returned the regulation of abortion to the states.

Gipson, a State House member from 2008-2018 and ag commissioner since then, draws inevitable name recognition from that role. Gunn pushed for changing the state flag and teacher pay raises during his 12 years as House speaker.

White seems to be strongly considering the race. He is a Rhodes Scholar and Harvard-educated lawyer and gained favor by uncovering some $109 million in misspent TANF funds and pushing for a more efficient government.

If Duff runs it'll be reminiscent of the late Gov. Fordice's successful turn in the 1990s from business to politics.

---Mac Gordon is a native of McComb. He is a retired newspaperman. He can be reached at macmarygordon@gmail.com.