How many terms can a Mississippi governor serve?
Short answer: a person can be elected Mississippi governor no more than twice. The same constitutional section sets the governor's term at four years.
The source-backed answer
Article 5, Section 116 of the Mississippi Constitution says the governor holds office for four years and that no person shall be elected governor more than twice. It also creates a stricter rule for someone who served more than two years of another governor's term: that person may be elected governor only once.
For the 2027 race, that rule matters because Tate Reeves was elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2023. That makes the next Mississippi governor contest an open-seat race rather than an incumbent re-election campaign.
What the limit means
- Normal cap: two elections as governor.
- Normal term: four years per term.
- Succession caveat: serving more than two years of someone else's term can reduce later eligibility to one election.
Use next
FAQ
How many terms can a Mississippi governor serve?
A person can be elected Mississippi governor no more than twice. Mississippi Constitution Article 5, Section 116 says no person shall be elected governor more than twice. It also says a person who served more than two years of another governor's term may be elected governor only once.
Can a Mississippi governor serve two terms?
Yes. A person can be elected Mississippi governor twice. The limit is not one term; the constitutional cap is being elected governor no more than twice.
Can Tate Reeves run for Mississippi governor again in 2027?
No. Tate Reeves has already been elected governor twice, in 2019 and 2023, so the 2027 race is an open-seat contest under the two-election limit.
Sources
- Mississippi Constitution, Article 5, Section 116 - Official Mississippi Secretary of State PDF: governor holds office for four years; no person shall be elected governor more than twice; a person who served more than two years of another governor's term may be elected only once.