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Tate Reeves

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Tate Reeves
Tate Reeves 2019.jpg
Reeves in 2019
65th Governor of Mississippi
Assumed office
January 14, 2020
LieutenantDelbert Hosemann
Preceded byPhil Bryant
32nd Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi
In office
January 10, 2012 – January 14, 2020
GovernorPhil Bryant
Preceded byPhil Bryant
Succeeded byDelbert Hosemann
53rd Treasurer of Mississippi
In office
January 13, 2004 – January 10, 2012
GovernorHaley Barbour
Preceded byPeyton Prospere
Succeeded byLynn Fitch
Personal details
Born
Jonathon Tate Reeves

(1974-06-05) June 5, 1974 (age 47)
Florence, Mississippi, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)
Elee Williams
​
(m. 2001)​
[1]
Children3
ResidenceGovernor's Mansion
EducationMillsaps College (BA)
WebsiteGovernment website

Jonathon Tate Reeves (born June 5, 1974) is an American politician serving as the 65th and current governor of Mississippi since 2020. A member of the Republican Party, he was the 53rd Mississippi State Treasurer from 2004 to 2012 and the 32nd lieutenant governor of Mississippi from 2012 to 2020.[2] At age 29, he was the youngest state treasurer in the nation when elected in 2003 and the first Republican to hold the office in Mississippi.[3] He was the Republican nominee for governor of Mississippi in the 2019 election[4][5] and defeated the Democratic nominee, Attorney General Jim Hood.[6]

Background

A native of Rankin County, Mississippi, Reeves graduated in 1992 from Florence High School in Florence.[7] He is an honors graduate of Millsaps College in Jackson, where he earned a bachelor's degree in economics.[8] He played one year as a point guard for the Millsaps Majors basketball team and was a member of Kappa Alpha Order. Reeves remains involved with Millsaps by serving as a member of the investment policy board for the General Louis Wilson Fund and a member the Advisory Committee of the Else School of Management.[9]

Controversy

Reeves's Millsaps College fraternity, Kappa Alpha, was known for racist activities, including using racial epithets and hosting Confederate-themed dances.[10] Reeves became embroiled in controversy when yearbook photos surfaced showing fraternity members in blackface and Confederate uniforms, but it is unclear whether Reeves was involved.[11][12]

Early career

After Millsaps, Reeves pursued a career in banking and finance in Jackson, where he became assistant vice president for AmSouth, formerly the Deposit Guaranty National Bank, and served as a senior investment analyst. In 1996, he received the Mississippi Society of Financial Analysts Award. In 2000, Reeves became an investment officer for Trustmark National Bank in Jackson. Reeves holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA Society of Mississippi and the CFA Institute, an investment industry organization.[13]

Political career

Mississippi state treasurer (2004–2012)

Reeves entered the 2003 GOP primary election and faced former transportation commissioner Wayne Burkes of Brandon and State Representative of Natchez. Reeves ran strongly in GOP strongholds, including Lamar, DeSoto, and Rankin counties.[citation needed]. In the three-candidate primary, Reeves led with 49% of the vote,[14] and routed Burkes in the primary runoff.[15] In the general election, Reeves defeated Democratic nominee Gary Anderson, the state director of finance and administration, 52% to 48%.[16]

Unopposed in the GOP primary, Reeves's only Democratic opposition in the 2007 general election was perennial candidate Shawn O'Hara. Reeves was reelected with 61% of the vote.

Lieutenant governor of Mississippi (2012–2020)

Reeves served as lieutenant governor from 2012 to 2020.

In February 2011, Reeves officially launched a campaign for lieutenant governor[17] and held a fundraising lead over his primary opponent, Mississippi State Senate President Pro Tempore Billy Hewes of Gulfport.[citation needed] A May 2011 poll of likely Republican voters showed Reeves with a 51%–18% lead over Hewes.[18] On August 2, 2011, Reeves defeated Hewes. On November 8, he was elected lieutenant governor, succeeding Phil Bryant, who was elected to his first term as governor.[19]

Reeves won reelection as lieutenant governor on November 3, 2015, defeating three opponents, including state Senator Timothy L. Johnson, a Republican-turned-Democrat.[20] Newspaper reporting on the misuse of statewide public official's campaign funds indicated that Reeves did not misuse these funds. Non-election year expenses were directed toward campaign-related items such as computer databases or political travel.[21]

Governor of Mississippi (2020–present)

Reeves ran for governor of Mississippi in the 2019 election.[4] He opposed Medicaid expansion, which he called "Obamacare expansion." In the Republican primary, he and Bill Waller Jr. finished in first and second place, respectively. Because no candidate won a majority of the total vote, Reeves and Waller proceeded to a runoff election on August 27, which Reeves won.[22][5]

Reeves was sworn in as governor on January 14, 2020.[23]

In November 2020, Reeves said he would veto any bill that expanded mail-in voting or no-excuse early voting.[24] According to the Associated Press, "Mississippi has some of the most restrictive laws in the U.S. about voting before Election Day."[24] After Joe Biden won the 2020 election and Donald Trump refused to concede, Reeves supported lawsuits to throw out the election results in several states where Trump and his allies made false claims of fraud.[25]

In April 2021, Reeves said, "There is not systemic racism in America."[26] Earlier that month, he declared April Confederate Heritage Month.[26]

After the state Supreme Court struck down medical marijuana initiative in May 2021, Reeves was open to calling a special session to address the issue.[27]

Coronavirus pandemic

Amid the acceleration of the COVID-19 pandemic, Reeves overrode local leaders' decisions to order people to stay at home, instead telling Mississippians get back to "life as usual" and deeming places like bars, dine-in restaurants and churches "essential services".[28] He also refused to close down beaches.[29] Reeves refused to announce stay-at-home orders, telling people to trust in the "power of prayer".[29] The decision was widely condemned.[28] Asked in late March 2020 why China could impose a lockdown but Mississippi could not, Reeves answered, "Mississippi's never going to be China. Mississippi's never going to be North Korea."[29] Reeves implemented a "stay-at-home" order on April 3.[30] In late April, he allowed some retail businesses to reopen again.[31] At the same time, Mississippi had its largest spike of coronavirus deaths and cases.[31]

On April 30, 2021, Reeves ended COVID-19 restrictions with the exception of the school mask mandate through May 31, 2021. For the 2021–22 school year, Reeves did not reinstate the mask mandate.[32][33]

When a COVID-19 vaccine was made widely available, Reeves expressed opposition to vaccine requirements.[34][35]

In August 2021, Reeves argued that Mississippi citizens were less scared of COVID-19: "When you believe in eternal life—when you believe that living on this earth is but a blip on the screen, then you don't have to be so scared of things."[36] That month, Mississippi surpassed New York, the nation’s original pandemic hot spot, in COVID-19 deaths per capita.[36]

Mississippi flag removal

In June 2020, amid the George Floyd protests, debate arose about whether to change the Flag of Mississippi because it contained the Confederate insignia in the top left. Reeves supported changing the flag by referendum, but said that if the Mississippi Legislature passed a bill to retire the flag without a referendum, he would sign it.[37][38] On June 28, the legislature voted to change the flag, 91 to 23 in the House and 37 to 14 in the Senate.[39] Reeves signed the legislation two days later, removing the last state flag to display the Confederate symbol.[40]

Electoral history

Mississippi Treasurer Republican Primary Election, 2003
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tate Reeves 80,770 48.48
Republican Wayne Burkes 51,745 31.06
Republican Andrew Ketchings 33,795 20.28
Republican Write-ins 311 0.19
Mississippi Treasurer Republican Primary Election Runoff, 2003
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tate Reeves 49,466 72.16
Republican Wayne Burkes 19,047 27.78
Republican Write-ins 39 0.06
Mississippi Treasurer Election, 2003
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tate Reeves 447,860 51.80
Democratic Gary Anderson 403,307 46.64
Reform Lee Dilworth 13,507 1.56
Mississippi Treasurer Election, 2007
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tate Reeves (inc.) 436,833 60.53
Democratic Shawn O'Hara 284,789 39.47
Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Republican Primary Election, 2011
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tate Reeves 162,857 56.89
Republican Billy Hewes 123,389 43.11
Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Election, 2011
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tate Reeves 644,205 80.35
Reform Tracella Lou O'Hara 157,547 19.65
Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Republican Primary Election, 2015
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tate Reeves (inc.) 225,192 82.50
Republican Alisha Nelson McElhenney 47,760 17.50
Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Election, 2015
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tate Reeves (inc.) 429,990 60.45
Democratic Tim Johnson 255,657 35.94
Libertarian Ron Williams 16,226 2.28
Reform Rosa Williams 9,410 1.32
Mississippi Governor Republican Primary Election, 2019
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tate Reeves 182,979 48.9
Republican Bill Waller Jr. 124,707 33.3
Republican Robert Foster 66,441 17.8
Mississippi Governor Republican Primary Election Runoff, 2019
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tate Reeves 176,251 54.28
Republican Bill Waller Jr. 148,471 45.72
Mississippi gubernatorial election, 2019[41]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Tate Reeves 443,063 52.26 -14.12%
Democratic Jim Hood 394,177 46.49 +14.24%
Independent David Singletary 8,145 0.96 N/A
Constitution Bob Hickingbottom 2,495 0.29 N/A
Total votes 847,880 100%
Republican hold

References

  1. ^ @tatereeves (November 24, 2019). "Eighteen years ago, we had no idea we would begin today on a soccer field after 12 times on the ballot, 5 elections…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ "Mississippi Churches, Stores Reopen As Governor Overrides Mayors' COVID-19 Orders". MISSISSIPPI FREE PRESS. March 26, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  3. ^ "Mississippi Treasurer Tate Reeves". Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "As expected, GOP's Reeves files for Mississippi governor". Mississippi Business Journal. Associated Press. January 3, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Lee, Jasmine C.; Andre, Mike; White, Isaac (August 27, 2019). "Mississippi Primary Runoff Election Results". The New York Times. Associated Press. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  6. ^ Ramseth, Luke; Balogna, Giacomo (November 5, 2019). "Republican Tate Reeves wins Mississippi governor race". Mississippi Clarion Ledger. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  7. ^ Fox 4 - "Mississippi governor pranked while reading high school grads' names on live stream"
  8. ^ Money Inc. - "10 Things You Didn't Know about Tate Reeves"
  9. ^ GOP - Tate Reeves
  10. ^ Pittman, Ashton (February 8, 2019). "Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves' Fraternity Wore Black Face, Hurled the N-Word at Black Students". Jackson Free Press. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  11. ^ Terkel, Amanda (February 8, 2019). "Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Was Member Of College Fraternity Under Fire For Racism". HuffPost. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  12. ^ Bologna, Giacomo (February 8, 2019). "Tate Reeves thrust into national controversy over racist frat photos". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  13. ^ "Biography of Tate Reeves". tatereeves.com. Archived from the original on August 16, 2005. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  14. ^ ""Anderson, Reeves out to early leads in treasurer primaries", The Sun Herald". Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  15. ^ "State and County races". The Sun Herald. August 27, 2003. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  16. ^ Byrd, Sheila Hardwell (November 6, 2003). "Race may have been factor in Miss. elections". The Ocala Star-Banner. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  17. ^ Parker, Molly (February 6, 2011). "Reeves launches campaign for lt.gov". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  18. ^ "Memo re Mississippi Statewide Republican Primary Survey". May 26, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  19. ^ "Reeves Wins Race For Miss. Lt. Governor". WAPT. November 8, 2011.[permanent dead link]
  20. ^ "Tate Reeves re-elected as Mississippi Lt. Governor". WLOX. November 3, 2015. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  21. ^ Mollie Bryant, Geoffrey Sender, & Kate Royals. (March 6, 2016). "Funds used to buy vehicles, pottery". Clarion Ledger. (Jackson). p. A15
  22. ^ Bologna, Giacomo; Ramseth, Luke (August 7, 2019). "Tate Reeves, Bill Waller head to runoff for Republican governor primary". Jackson Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  23. ^ https://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2020/mar/24/gov-tate-reeves-orders-limited-gatherings-today-ex/
  24. ^ Jump up to: a b "Mississippi governor says he'd veto mail-in or early voting". Channel3000.com. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  25. ^ Harrison, Bobby (December 14, 2020). "Mississippi electors vote Trump, top officials cast doubt about election results in other states". Mississippi Today. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  26. ^ Jump up to: a b Bump, Philip. "Analysis | 'There is not systemic racism' says a governor who named April as Confederate Heritage Month". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  27. ^ "Governor 'long way' from deciding on if he'll call special session". WAPT. May 18, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  28. ^ Jump up to: a b Adam Ganusheau Mayors scramble to know: Does Gov. Reeves’ coronavirus declaration clash with local orders? March 26, 2020 Mississippi Today via Sun Herald
  29. ^ Jump up to: a b c Moser, Bob. "How Mississippi's Governor Undermined Efforts to Contain the Coronavirus". The New Yorker. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  30. ^ https://www.sos.ms.gov/Education-Publications/ExecutiveOrders/1466.pdf order 1466]
  31. ^ Jump up to: a b "Mississippi governor reconsiders reopening state after its largest spike of COVID-19 deaths and cases". gma.yahoo.com. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  32. ^ Stribling, Will (April 30, 2021). "Gov. Reeves ends previous COVID-19 restrictions, keeps school mask mandate". Mississippi Today. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  33. ^ Williams, Angela (April 30, 2021). "Governor's executive order sets end date for school mask mandate". WAPT.
  34. ^ "Mississippi GOP governor pushes back on vaccine passports: 'I don't think it's a good thing to do in America'". CNN. Retrieved August 28, 2021. |first= missing |last= (help)
  35. ^ Haselhorst, Sarah. "'I don't think it's necessary': Mississippi governor admonishes vaccine passports". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  36. ^ Jump up to: a b "Mississippi Passes NY's COVID Death Rate; Reeves Says Residents 'Less Scared'". Mississippi Free Press. August 28, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  37. ^ Pender, Geoff; Skinner, Kayleigh (June 27, 2020). "Gov. Tate Reeves: If Legislature passes bill to change state flag, 'I will sign it'". Mississippi Today. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  38. ^ @tatereeves (June 27, 2020). "If they send me a bill this weekend, I will sign it" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  39. ^ Madani, Doha; Stelloh, Tim (June 28, 2020). "Mississippi Legislature passes bill to eliminate Confederate symbol from state flag". NBC News. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  40. ^ Pettus, Emily Wagster (June 30, 2020). "With a pen stroke, Mississippi drops Confederate-themed flag". AP NEWS. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  41. ^ "Mississippi General Election Results 2019". ClarionLedger.com. November 5, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.

External links

Media related to Tate Reeves at Wikimedia Commons

Political offices
Preceded by
Peyton Prospere 		Treasurer of Mississippi
2004–2012 		Succeeded by
Lynn Fitch
Preceded by
Phil Bryant 		Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi
2012–2020 		Succeeded by
Delbert Hosemann
Governor of Mississippi
2020–present 		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by
Phil Bryant 		Republican nominee for Governor of Mississippi
2019 		Most recent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Kamala Harris
as Vice President 		Order of precedence of the United States
Within Mississippi 		Succeeded by
Mayor of city
in which event is held
Succeeded by
Otherwise Nancy Pelosi
as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Eric Holcomb
as Governor of Indiana 		Order of precedence of the United States
Outside Mississippi 		Succeeded by
J. B. Pritzker
as Governor of Illinois
Retrieved from ""