mississippi notes

Yellow Dog Democrats

Refers to a high number of Democrats in Mississippi who are loyal to the party and would vote for a yellow dog before voting for a Republican.

Dominant Party

Republicans are the dominant political party in Mississippi, especially after gaining momentum from Richard Nixon's coattails in 1972.

Presidential Voting Patterns

Mississippi has consistently voted for Republican presidential candidates since 1976, with the exception of Jimmy Carter in 1976.

US Senate Voting Patterns

Mississippi has not elected a Democratic senator since 1988, and Democrats were more competitive in congressional elections until recent years.

US House Voting Patterns

In the early 2000s, Mississippi was predominantly Republican, with Republicans holding about three-fourths of the seats in the US House of Representatives.

Gubernatorial Relations

Republicans have won seven out of the last eight gubernatorial elections in Mississippi, with the current governor being Tate Reeves. However, there have been attempts by Democrats to elect another democrat governor.

State Congress Relations

Republicans have held control of both chambers of the state congress since 2011, and in 2015, they gained a supermajority with 60% in both chambers.

African Americans in Politics

Mississippi has seen high levels of black participation in politics, with notable achievements such as the election of the first black congressman, Mike Espy, in 1986.

Partisan Relations

By 2010, a significant majority of white Mississippians identified with the Republican party, reflecting conservative values that extend beyond race relations and include debates on cultural values.

Power-Sharing Tradition

Mississippi has a tradition of power-sharing with the minority party, which includes bipartisan cooperation, established minority leader posts, shared committee chairmanships, but reserves all power positions for party members.

Local and County Levels

Democratic participation in Mississippi is facilitated by ruralism and numerous counties, allowing for significant involvement at the local and county levels.

Populist Strain

Mississippi exhibits a seemingly populist strain, with a significant portion of the population being very poor and uneducated.