mississippi notes

  • high number of yellow dog democrats

  • republicans are dominant party

    • became dominant after Nixon coattails in 1972

  • presidential voting patterns:

    • has not had a democratic vote since 1976

    • voted for Reagan, Nixon, and Bush

    • last vote for a dem was Jimmy Carter in 1976; but not for his reelection

    • heavy support for Trump — most candidates (both dems and repubs) don't come to Mississippi anymore

  • followed national republican trends in the 1990s

  • US Senate voting patterns:

    • has not had a dem senator since 1988

    • elected Thad Cochran and Trent Lott in 1972 after sitting dems retired

    • Dems were more competitive in congressional elections until more recent years

  • US House voting patterns:

    • Was ¾ Republican in the early 2000s

  • gubertorial relations:

    • won 7 of the last 8 elections

    • First GOP gov: Kirk Fordice and Lt. Gov Eddie Briggs in 1991

    • Current Gov is Tate Reeves

    • However, seesaw attempts to elect another GOP gov until LT GovnAmy Tuck, who switched before her reelection

    • Slowly began to take control of all 8 state offices, starting with the least powerful

      • Tied in 2003, took control in 2007

    • Gained 7 offices in 2011; only dem left was AG Jim Hood

    • Won all 8 offices in 2019 -- sweep

    • Has had a GOP member contesting all offices since 2003

  • State Congress relations:

    • holding control of both chambers since 2011

    • Gained a supermajority in 2015 -- 60% in both chambers

  • voted for third-party Strom Thurman in 1948 and Wallace in 1968

  • was covered by the 1965 VRA

    • Only 7% of all African Americans were registered to vote in 1964

  • African Americans in politics:

    • 1st black congressman: Mike Espy, 1986

    • 1st black house member: Robert Clark, 1967 (was only black lawmaker for 8 years)

    • High levels of black participation from the Delta -- majority black district

  • Partisan relations:

    • By 2010 almost ⅔ of whites were identifying with the republican party, compared to only 6% in 1975

    • Conservative values statewide!!!

    • Cultural values are more debated than just race relations

      • Role of women

      • Pro-life

      • Affirmative actions

      • Public works

    • Big losers now are white democrats -- cant gain traction

    • While they are not holders, Dems continue to contest officers, meaning that the state has not returned to one-party politics

    • Mississippi has a tradition of power-sharing with the minority party

      • Bipartisan cooperation

      • Established minority leader posts for each chamber

      • Share comitteechaimanships

      • Reserve all power positions for party members however

    • Ruralism and numerous counties allow for democratic participation -- Local and County levels

  • Paper endorsements are large in Mississippi

  • Has a seemingly populist strain -- very poor, very uneducated