1991 Mississippi gubernatorial election

The 1991 Mississippi gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 1991 to elect the Governor of Mississippi. Incumbent Democrat Ray Mabus unsuccessfully ran for reelection to a second term. This election marked the first time a Republican was elected Governor of Mississippi since Reconstruction, when Adelbert Ames won the office in 1873.

1991 Mississippi gubernatorial election

← 1987November 5, 19911995 →
 
NomineeKirk FordiceRay Mabus
PartyRepublicanDemocratic
Popular vote361,500338,459
Percentage50.83%47.59%

County results
Fordice:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
Mabus:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

Governor before election

Ray Mabus
Democratic

Elected Governor

Kirk Fordice
Republican

This is the last gubernatorial election where the Democratic candidate carried any of three counties (Hancock, Harrison and Jackson) along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Democratic primary edit

Incumbent Democrat Ray Mabus won the Democratic primary, defeating former U.S. Representative Wayne Dowdy and George "Wagon Wheel" Blair. According to The New York Times, Mabus had to fend off charges that he was "arrogant and out of touch with Mississippi politically", and was perceived as a "Porsche politician in a Chevy pickup state".[1]

Results edit

Mississippi Democratic gubernatorial primary, 1991[2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticRay Mabus (incumbent) 368,679 50.75
DemocraticWayne Dowdy299,17241.18
DemocraticGeorge "Wagon Wheel" Blair58,6148.07
Total votes726,465 100.00

Republican primary edit

No candidate received a majority in the Republican primary, so a runoff was held between the top two candidates. The runoff election was won by businessman Kirk Fordice, who defeated State Auditor Pete Johnson.

Results edit

Mississippi Republican gubernatorial primary, 1991[3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanKirk Fordice 28,411 44.64
RepublicanPete Johnson 27,651 43.44
RepublicanBobby Clanton7,58911.92
Total votes63,651 100.00

Runoff edit

Mississippi Republican gubernatorial primary runoff, 1991[4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanKirk Fordice 31,753 60.63
RepublicanPete Johnson20,62239.37
Total votes52,375 100.00

General election edit

Results edit

Mississippi gubernatorial election, 1991[5][6]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanKirk Fordice 361,500 50.83%
DemocraticRay Mabus (incumbent)338,45947.59%
IndependentShawn O'Hara11,2531.58%
Total votes711,212 100.00
Republican gain from Democratic

References edit