Watson Renews Calls for Campaign Finance Reform
Secretary of State Michael Watson centered his Neshoba speech on transparency in Mississippi politics. His office plans to launch a searchable campaign finance database by April 2026, but he said real accountability won’t exist until all state and local candidates are required to file electronically.
He also dismissed concerns from some lawmakers that the rule might burden candidates without computer access.
“Quite frankly, I think it’s nonsense,” Watson said. “It’s not a valid excuse. I think for Mississippi’s sake, for the clarity, for the accountability, it’s something that we have to get done, and I hope the Legislature will get that done for us.”
Watson also renewed his call to close the “legacy account” loophole, which allows candidates to personally keep leftover campaign funds collected before a 2018 ethics reform law took effect.
Speaker White Sets Stage for 2026 Session Focused on 'Education Freedom'
House Speaker Jason White used his time at Neshoba to promote his “education freedom” agenda for the 2026 session, reiterating his support for school choice policies and parent-directed use of state education dollars.
Critics argue these policies weaken public education, but White likened their opposition to early resistance toward reforms that helped Mississippi improve its national education rankings.
“If we had maintained the status quo because of the fearmongers in this space, we wouldn’t be talking about the Mississippi Miracle,” White said. “We would still be talking about the Mississippi mediocre.”
He also cited last year’s passage of the Mississippi Student Funding Formula as evidence that the House’s Republican supermajority is committed to strengthening the state’s investments in K–12 education.
Reeves Continues ‘Momentum’ Messaging on Economic, Academic Gains
Gov. Tate Reeves used his appearance to celebrate multibillion-dollar investment projects from companies like Amazon, citing economic development and rising national test scores as evidence that Mississippi’s conservative policies are working.
With less than two and a half years left in office due to term limits, Reeves said he plans to focus on building and preserving those gains.
“My goal is to continue to build our momentum such that our economic momentum and our educational momentum is so strong that it doesn’t really matter who is elected what in the next cycle,” Reeves said.
He also endorsed White’s education freedom agenda, saying the House’s approach is fully aligned with his vision.
McRae Brings State Treasury Into the World of Cryptocurrency
State Treasurer David McRae highlighted Mississippi’s fiscal health in his stump speech, pointing to record interest earnings from bond investments and a robust surplus.
He also announced the state will begin accepting Bitcoin payments for Treasury-managed services, such as college savings plans, in September.
“We don’t want to be caught flat-footed… If crypto is the way of the future, I want to make sure we’re ahead of the curve,” McRae said.
McRae said Bitcoin would be the only accepted cryptocurrency for now, and his office will evaluate its viability as a long-term investment tool for the state.
Fitch Announces Results of Statewide Human Trafficking Operation
Attorney General Lynn Fitch used her Neshoba speech to announce the results of a two-week, statewide law enforcement operation that led to 72 arrests and the recovery of 39 human trafficking victims.
Operation Guardian Force was led by Fitch’s Human Trafficking Task Force, Fentanyl Strike Force and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, with support from 400 officers across two dozen agencies.
Speaking to reporters, Fitch said the results show the value of dedicating law enforcement resources to this type of exploitation.
“We're very focused on human trafficking in the state of Mississippi,” Fitch said. “Just giving these numbers on how many we rescued in the last two and a half weeks is what's critical. Taking care of Mississippians, keeping them secure here and going after those criminals.”
Fitch also said a top priority for her office’s cybercrime division is identifying those behind a recent Zoom-bombing incident that disrupted a meeting of the state’s Opioid Settlement Advisory Council. The virtual session was derailed by explicit and racist imagery shared by unidentified hackers.
