The governor of Mississippi is the head of government of Mississippi and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws,MS Const. art. V, § 123. and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Mississippi Legislature,MS Const. art. IV, § 72. to convene the legislature at any time,MS Const. art. V, § 121. and, except in cases of treason or impeachment, to grant pardons and reprieves.MS Const. art. V, § 140-141.

To be elected governor, a person must be at least thirty years old, and must have been a citizen of the United States for twenty years and a resident of Mississippi for at least five years at the time of inauguration.MS Const. art. V, § 117. The Constitution of Mississippi, ratified in 1890, calls for a four-year term for the governor, elected via the two-round system since a 2020 referendum. Prior to this, the governor was elected by an electoral college composed of the districts represented in the Mississippi House of Representatives, with a contingent election held in the House in the event no candidate received a majority of district electors. The term length was originally two years,1817 art iv sec 1 with no limit on how many terms they could serve. The 1832 constitution limited governors to serving no more than four out of every six years.1832 art v sec 3 When terms were lengthened to four years in 1868,MS Const. (1817) art. IV, § 1; MS Const. (1832) art. V, § 1; MS Const. (1868) art. V, § 1. this limit was removed. The 1890 constitution forbid governors from succeeding themselves, but a 1986 amendment allows them to succeed themselves once.MS Const. art. V, § 116. The office of the lieutenant governor was created in the 1817 constitution, abolished in 1832, and recreated in 1868. When the office of governor becomes vacant for any reason, the lieutenant governor exercises the powers of governor for the remainder of the term.MS Const. art. V, § 131. The governor and the lieutenant governor are not officially elected on the same ticket.

The current governor is Republican Tate Reeves, who took office January 14, 2020.

List of governors Mississippi Territory Mississippi Territory was organized on April 7, 1798, from land ceded to the federal government by Georgia. It had four governors appointed by the president of the United States during its 19-year history, including one, David Holmes, who would later serve as state governor.

+ Governors of the Territory of MississippiGovernorTerm in officeAppointed by1Winthrop SargentMay 7, 1798–May 25, 18012William C. C. ClaiborneMay 25, 1801–March 2, 18053Robert WilliamsMarch 2, 1805–March 7, 18094David HolmesMarch 7, 1809–October 7, 1817

State of Mississippi Mississippi was admitted to the Union on December 10, 1817., It seceded from the Union on January 9, 1861, and was a founding member of the Confederate States of America on February 4, 1861.Constitution for the Provisional Government of the Confederate States of America , accessed July 8, 2015 During the Reconstruction era following the end of the American Civil War, Mississippi was part of the Fourth Military District, which exerted some control over governor appointments and elections. Mississippi was readmitted to the Union on February 23, 1870.

+ Governors of the State of MississippiGovernorTerm in officePartyElectionLt. Governor1 David HolmesOctober 7, 1817Secretary of State of Mississippi, "Mississippi Blue Book. Biennial report of the Secretary of State to the Legislature of Mississippi. [1929-1931]" (1931). page 40, accessed March 20, 2023.–January 5, 1820Democratic-Republican1817 2George PoindexterJanuary 5, 1820–January 7, 1822Democratic-Republican18193Walter LeakeJanuary 7, 1822–November 17, 1825Democratic-Republican182118234Gerard BrandonNovember 17, 1825–January 7, 1826Democratic-RepublicanActing as governor5David HolmesJanuary 7, 1826–July 25, 1826Democratic-Republican18256Gerard BrandonJuly 25, 1826–January 9, 1832Democratic-RepublicanActing as governor182718297Abram M. ScottJanuary 9, 1832–June 12, 1833NationalRepublican1831Office did not exist8Charles LynchJune 12, 1833–November 21, 1833Whig9Hiram RunnelsNovember 21, 1833–November 21, 1835Democratic183310John A. QuitmanDecember 3, 1835–January 7, 1836Democratic11Charles LynchJanuary 7, 1836–January 8, 1838Whig183512Alexander G. McNuttJanuary 8, 1838–January 9, 1842Democratic1837183913Tilghman TuckerJanuary 10, 1842–January 10, 1844Democratic184114Albert G. BrownJanuary 10, 1844–January 10, 1848Democratic1843184515Joseph W. MatthewsJanuary 10, 1848–January 10, 1850Democratic184716John A. QuitmanJanuary 10, 1850–February 3, 1851Democratic184917John Isaac GuionFebruary 3, 1851–November 4, 1851Democratic18James WhitfieldNovember 25, 1851–January 10, 1852Democratic19Henry S. FooteJanuary 10, 1852–January 5, 1854UnionDemocratic185120John J. PettusJanuary 5, 1854–January 10, 1854Democratic21John J. McRaeJanuary 10, 1854–November 16, 1857Democratic1853185522William McWillieNovember 16, 1857–November 21, 1859Democratic185723John J. PettusNovember 21, 1859–November 16, 1863Democratic1859186124Charles ClarkNovember 16, 1863–May 22, 1865Democratic186325William L. SharkeyJune 13, 1865–October 16, 186526Benjamin G. HumphreysOctober 16, 1865–June 15, 1868Non-partisan186527Adelbert AmesJune 15, 1868–March 10, 187028James L. AlcornMarch 10, 1870–November 30, 1871Republican186929Ridgley C. PowersNovember 30, 1871–January 22, 1874RepublicanActing as governor30Adelbert AmesJanuary 22, 1874–March 29, 1876Republican1873Vacant31John Marshall StoneMarch 29, 1876–January 9, 1882Democratic187732Robert LowryJanuary 9, 1882–January 13, 1890Democratic1881188533John Marshall StoneJanuary 13, 1890–January 21, 1896Democratic188934Anselm J. McLaurinJanuary 21, 1896–January 16, 1900Democratic189535Andrew H. LonginoJanuary 16, 1900–January 19, 1904Democratic189936James K. VardamanJanuary 19, 1904–January 21, 1908Democratic190337Edmond NoelJanuary 21, 1908–January 16, 1912Democratic190738Earl L. BrewerJanuary 16, 1912–January 18, 1916Democratic191139Theodore G. BilboJanuary 18, 1916–January 18, 1920Democratic191540Lee M. RussellJanuary 20, 1920–January 22, 1924Democratic191941Henry L. WhitfieldJanuary 22, 1924–March 18, 1927Democratic192342Dennis MurphreeMarch 18, 1927–January 17, 1928DemocraticActing as governor43Theodore G. BilboJanuary 17, 1928–January 19, 1932Democratic192744Martin Sennet ConnerJanuary 19, 1932–January 21, 1936Democratic193145Hugh L. WhiteJanuary 21, 1936–January 16, 1940Democratic193546Paul B. Johnson Sr.January 16, 1940–December 26, 1943Democratic193947Dennis MurphreeDecember 26, 1943–January 18, 1944DemocraticActing as governor48Thomas L. BaileyJanuary 18, 1944–November 2, 1946Democratic194349Fielding L. WrightNovember 2, 1946–January 22, 1952DemocraticActing as governor50194751Hugh L. WhiteJanuary 22, 1952–January 17, 1956Democratic195152James P. ColemanJanuary 17, 1956–January 19, 1960Democratic195553Ross BarnettJanuary 19, 1960–January 21, 1964Democratic195954Paul B. Johnson Jr.January 21, 1964–January 16, 1968Democratic1963Vacant55John Bell WilliamsJanuary 16, 1968–January 18, 1972Democratic196756Bill WallerJanuary 18, 1972–January 20, 1976Democratic197157Cliff FinchJanuary 20, 1976–January 22, 1980Democratic197558William F. WinterJanuary 22, 1980–January 10, 1984Democratic197959William AllainJanuary 10, 1984–January 12, 1988Democratic198360Ray MabusJanuary 12, 1988–January 14, 1992Democratic198761Kirk FordiceJanuary 14, 1992–January 11, 2000Republican1991199562Ronnie MusgroveJanuary 11, 2000–January 13, 2004Democratic199963Haley BarbourJanuary 13, 2004–January 10, 2012Republican2003200764Phil BryantJanuary 10, 2012–January 14, 2020Republican2011201565Tate ReevesJanuary 14, 2020–IncumbentRepublican20192023

See also List of lieutenant governors of Mississippi Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Mississippi List of Mississippi state legislatures

Notes

References General

Specific

External links Office of the Governor of Mississippi