2028 hopefuls court Mississippi voters at day two of Neshoba County Fair

Several politicians are vying for the governor’s seat, with Agriculture and Commerce Commissioner Andy Gipson and former House speaker Philip Gunn officially announcing their bids earlier this year.  

Gipson spoke to a crowd at the fair, emphasizing economic development, particularly investing in local food supply, building on current efforts to use more domestic supply, and cutting foreign imports. 

"What we don't have is what we have to bring back: and that is the local processing and cold storage, distribution so that we can make sure no matter what happens in the future we can feed Mississippians first,” said Gipson. 

Juvenile crime was another issue that Gipson discussed, specifically citing a Simpson County home invasion that led the deaths of a couple from his church earlier this month.  

Gipson touted personal accountability as part of that response and focused on justice system-centered initiatives coming from the state level, as opposed to early interventions at the community level.  

"Cities don't have the resources,” Gipson told reporters, following his speech. “It needs to be a state correctional, rehabilitation center, penitentiary, whatever you want to call it, that these young either earn a diploma, so they can graduate high school and be productive in society or learn some skills to get a job.” 

Gunn told MPB News that economic development is also a priority of his, highlighting his focus on bringing high-paying jobs to the state.  

"Jobs are important, but Mississippi's median income is the lowest in the country,” said Gunn. “We got to be about attracting high paying jobs and creating the kind of environment that our kids want to live in.” 

 Secretary of State Michael Watson also spoke to fairgoers as part of his campaign for lieutenant governor, with business on his mind as well.  

"Making sure that businesses can focus on growing, doing good things and staying away from the government and red tape,” Watson told the crowd. “Economic development is big: It's not just about locating a large business here.” 

“It's also thinking about the full circle; what is that business bringing to this state? How are they investing in our local communities?”  

 Watson also talked about concerns over election security, highlighting the recently passed SHIELD Act and cybersecurity measures.  

A recent ruling from a federal judge temporarily stops the expanded use of the federal system the SHIELD Act would have entered state voters into to do voter immigration and citizenship status checks.  

State leaders also took to Founders Square to discuss their future plans in the coming year. 

School choice legislation failed to pass the legislature this year as talks between the House and Senate stalled early on. But it remains a top priority for House Speaker Jason White. Speaking to a crowd of people during the Neshoba County Fair, he said efforts are already underway to create a bill that will pass. 

"Whether that policy is enacted next session, in a special session, or maybe with a few new faces in the legislature, MIssissippi will indeed pass a transformational education freedom bill,” said White. “Change is coming. Parents are demanding it.” 

White said he’s proud his chamber’s part in reducing the income tax, which is set to be eliminated in several years. During his stump speech, he said his chamber is researching ways to reduce the property tax. 

“We’re gonna do the hard work. We’re gonna ask the hard questions. And we’re gonna pursue policies that put Mississippi taxpayers and homeowners first,” said White. “They’re beginning to feel like they rent the property that they own with where our taxes have gone. [House lawmakers] are gonna take a deep dive there.” 

Governor Tate Reeves is nearing the end of his second term and used his time at the podium challenging Mississippians to select a good candidate during next year's gubernatorial election. 

During his time in office, Reeves said the state was able to secure the six largest economic development projects ever. He hopes his successor will continue that progress. 

"That could go away if we elect the wrong people. I’m really pleased at the progress that we’ve made,” said Reeves. “Our mission for the next year and a half is to continue to build our economic and education momentum so high that it doesn’t matter who gets elected Governor. That momentum will continue.” 

Governor Reeves has about one and a half years remaining in his second term.  

Redistricting was a key issue across the board following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Lousiana v. Callais, which set off efforts to redraw electoral maps across the Gulf South. Many voters fear that new maps could dilute the voting power of minority communities with weakened protections from the Voting Rights Act.

Reeves said that a special session for redistricting was likely for state legislative and judicial districts, as well as Mississippi's congressional districts. 

"I would not be surprised if there is a special session to deal with redistricting sometime between now and when the next legislative session begins," Reeves told reporters. "We'll definitely have redistricting done before the 2027 elections." 

White highlighted that with primaries for congressional seats already complete, it's likely too late in the year to make any changes at that level. But, he too put plans for redistricting on the table. 

"Probably at some point, I hadn't spoke to the Lieutenant Governor about this yet, but we would probably form that joint committee on redistricting that is there and in the rules," said White, adding that they haven't formed that commitee yet since it's not a census year. 

The House formed several select committees in May, including one on redistricting. 

Gipson likewise pushed for redistricting. 

"I understand why it hasn't happened yet because of the fact that we had already had primaries, but we need to get that done," said Gipson. "I'm encouraged: I hear possibly we might have a special session on it coming up."

Watson recently announced he was preparing the state's voting system to roll back to 2022 legislative maps, which federal judges previously found to dilute the voting power of Black Mississippians. 

"We're gonna go back to the 2022, which we think the legislature lawfully passed," Watson told reporters at the fair on Thursday. " That's what Mississippians wanted and there were fair maps."

"So, we were preparing to go to that in the expectation that perhaps there's a special session that called. If it's not, then we're going to be ready either way."