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.

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

1991 Mississippi gubernatorial election

← 1987 November 5, 1991 1995 →

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

Close

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

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]

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.