Most of the Neshoba County Fair crowd stood Thursday and chanted “fight, fight, fight” at the behest of Republican Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson who vowed to battle the “liberal, woke agenda that has America in its jaws.”
Fight was the cry of former President Donald Trump as he was helped up by Secret Service agents after barely escaping an assassination attempt at a recent Pennsylvania rally. Fight also is what Trump urged his followers to do in 2021 before they attacked the U.S. Capitol in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent the certification of Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential election.
The animated crowd was an example of how the second day of political speaking at the red dirt Founder’s Square at the Neshoba County Fair on Thursday was mostly highlighted by red-meat statements stressing the importance of electing Donald Trump as president and less on state policy positions.
But the statewide officeholders, led by Gov. Tate Reeves, did promote what he called “core conservative policies” that he and other speakers said have led to progress in Mississippi.
As is always the case at the fair during the fair’s political stumping, there was lots of speculation about what politicians will be jockeying for offices in Mississippi’s 2027 statewide elections.
One fair visitor making the rounds at cabins and glad-handing was the source of much talk Thursday: billionaire businessman Thomas Duff, a potential Republican gubernatorial candidate in 2027.
Duff, the co-wealthiest Mississippian along with his brother, has helped fund numerous other politicians’ campaigns over the years and could self-fund a serious one for himself.
Asked about any plans to run for governor as he met with movers and shakers at the fair, Duff said: “I’m very much considering it, and I’m very much interested in it.”
Gipson told reporters he is not ruling out a run for governor in 2027.
“I am praying about that,” Gipson said. “I … have not made a decision,” though he said he has started fund-raising efforts.
READ MORE: Hosemann, White trade jabs, hint at gubernatorial aspirations at Neshoba Fair
Second term Secretary of State Michael Watson, who also spoke Thursday, has reportedly been considering a run either for governor or lieutenant governor, though he did not tip his hand to his future political plans.
Watson, the chief administrator of Mississippi’s elections, used part of his speech to advocate for Attorney General Lynn Fitch, who did not speak at the fair because of a scheduling conflict, to prosecute election fraud crimes.
“I’m not here to attack, but I am here to ask people to do their jobs,” Watson said, who added that he would like to see an attorney with the Attorney General’s Office specifically assigned to prosecute election-related crimes.
Speaking at the fair for the first time on Thursday, House Speaker Jason White, a Republican from West, said health care would again be a priority during the 2025 session. He said the House would maintain “an open mind” on expanding Medicaid to the working poor and wants to reach a compromise with the governor and the Senate.
But Reeves, who said in his speech that he had spoken at the annual political speaking more than any governor in the history of the state, told reporters he still opposes Medicaid expansion, though he thanked the speaker for advancing conservative policy in other areas.
When a reporter pointed out the many bad health care outcomes in the state, such as the nation’s highest infant mortality rate, Reeves said, “We want to work on these things, There are plenty of items we need to work on when it comes to health care.”
He added some of those poor outcomes are not the fault of government.
This past session both chambers passed legislation to expand Medicaid, but that effort proved unsuccessful when the House and Senate could not agree on a final proposal.
Reeves said many of the policies he has espoused during his 20-year tenure as treasurer, lieutenant governor and governor were first unveiled at the fair.
“As Donald Trump would say, we are winning like never before,” Reeves said of Mississippi.
He added, “Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have steered the national economy into the ditch.”
None acknowledged that inflation is coming down and that employment has dramatically increased nationwide, though, they cited strong employment numbers in Mississippi. None cited legislation supported by Biden that has helped spur the state economy, such as improving infrastructure and expanding broadband internet access.
Repeating the refrain from his successful 2023 reelect campaign, Reeves said, “Mississippi has momentum. This is Mississippi’s time.”
He added, “I don’t want to be just Mississippi good. I want to set the national standard. I want to beat Georgia’s ass.”
After his speech, Reeves declined to respond when asked about comments Trump made Wednesday that Vice President Harris only identified as Black recently as she ran for president.
Reeves said he wants to instead focus on Harris’ record.
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