Who will replace Tate Reeves? Mississippi will not know until the 2027 governor election is decided.
Short answer: the next Mississippi governor is unknown right now. Reeves is term-limited, so voters will choose his successor in the open-seat 2027 race.
No winner yet; use the 2027 election as the deciding event
The next Mississippi governor is not known yet. Tate Reeves is term-limited, so the 2027 race is an open-seat election, but the replacement will be whoever wins the 2027 Mississippi governor election. The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2027. The declared candidates currently tracked by msgovrace.com are Andy Gipson and Philip Gunn.
That distinction matters: term-limited does not mean replaced by a named person yet. It means the seat is open, the field is forming, and the replacement will be determined by the election. If the office becomes vacant before the normal handoff, use the separate Mississippi governor succession answer based on Article 5, Section 131.
Declared candidates right now
The declared candidate list is generated from the site's candidate data. It is a status list, not a prediction.
- Andy Gipson - Republican - Declared candidate
- Philip Gunn - Republican - Declared candidate
Known election facts
- Current governor: Tate Reeves.
- Eligibility: Reeves cannot run again in 2027 because he has been elected governor twice.
- General election: Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2027.
- Handoff: the next governor is expected to take office after the 2027 election, in January 2028.
What readers should not assume
- Do not treat Andy Gipson, Philip Gunn, or any other candidate as the next governor unless the 2027 election has been decided.
- Do not treat Reeves' term limit as an endorsement, succession appointment, or automatic handoff to another Republican.
- Do not merge declared candidates with possible candidates, watchlist names, or rumor.
FAQ
Who will replace Tate Reeves as Mississippi governor?
The next Mississippi governor is not known yet. Tate Reeves is term-limited, so the 2027 race is an open-seat election, but the replacement will be whoever wins the 2027 Mississippi governor election. The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2027. The declared candidates currently tracked by msgovrace.com are Andy Gipson and Philip Gunn.
Who is the next Mississippi governor?
The next Mississippi governor is unknown until voters decide the 2027 election and the winner is sworn in. This page should not be read as predicting, endorsing, or declaring a winner.
Why is the 2027 Mississippi governor race open?
Mississippi Constitution Article 5, Section 116 says no person shall be elected governor more than twice. Tate Reeves was elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2023, so he cannot run again in 2027.
Sources
- Mississippi Constitution, Article 5, Section 116 - Official Mississippi Secretary of State PDF: governor serves four years, and no person shall be elected governor more than twice.
- Mississippi Code Section 23-15-193 - State officers elected in the general state election hold office for four years and until successors are elected and qualified.
- Ballotpedia: Mississippi gubernatorial election, 2027 - Lists the 2027 Mississippi governor election and notes Tate Reeves is unable to run for re-election due to term limits.