1991 Mississippi gubernatorial election

The 1991 Mississippi gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 1991, in order 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 Adelbert Ames in 1873.

1991 Mississippi gubernatorial election
November 5, 1991
 
Nominee Kirk Fordice Ray Mabus
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 361,500 338,459
Percentage 50.83% 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

Elections in Mississippi

Democratic primary

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
Mississippi Democratic gubernatorial primary, 1991[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ray Mabus (incumbent) 368,679 50.75
Democratic Wayne Dowdy 299,172 41.18
Democratic George "Wagon Wheel" Blair 58,614 8.07
Total votes 726,465 100.00

Republican primary

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
Mississippi Republican gubernatorial primary, 1991[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kirk Fordice 28,411 44.64
Republican Pete Johnson 27,651 43.44
Republican Bobby Clanton 7,589 11.92
Total votes 63,651 100.00

Runoff
Mississippi Republican gubernatorial primary runoff, 1991[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kirk Fordice 31,753 60.63
Republican Pete Johnson 20,622 39.37
Total votes 52,375 100.00

General election

Campaign

Results
Mississippi gubernatorial election, 1991[5][6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kirk Fordice 361,500 50.83%
Democratic Ray Mabus (incumbent) 338,459 47.59%
Independent Shawn O'Hara 11,253 1.58%
Total votes 711,212 100.00
Republican gain from Democratic

References
  1. Applebome, Peter (16 September 1991). "Mississippi Governor's Record at Issue". New York Times.
  2. "MS Governor D Primary 1991". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  3. "MS Governor R Primary 1991". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  4. "MS Governor R Primary Runoff 1991". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  5. "MS Governor 1991". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  6. "1991 Gubernatorial General Election Results - Mississippi". David Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
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