History Of Mississippi Primary
In a state never swift to embrace democracy for all, the Mississippi presidential primary has a brief history.
It was not until 1988 that a real two-party presidential primary was held in Mississippi.
In 2008, the Mississippi primary will be held March 11.
Just over 2.9 million people live in Mississippi. 61% are white and 36% are black. That is the highest percentage of black people of any state in the nation.
Here are some basic facts about Mississippi.
In 2004, George W. Bush won Mississippi 59%-40%.
For many years Mississippi was a one-party Democratic Solid South state that used a whites-only primary.
Here is one link about the white primary.
The great Fannie Lou Hamer (photo above) led the fight for an integrated Mississippi Democratic Party at the 1964 Democratic convention in Atlantic City.
She had some success, but this was one event of many during the Civil Rights era that led many–though not all–white citizens of Mississippi to join the Republican party.
In 2004, Mississippi whites voted for George W. Bush by 85%-14%. Blacks voted for John Kerry 90%-10%.
( President George W. Bush.)
With the Republican party in control of much of Mississippi–though Democrats still control the state House of Representatives—it could be argued that the Republican primary is an updated white primary.
A difference is that black people are legally allowed to vote in the Republican primary. It’s just that they have little reason to want to do so.
The winner of the first Democratic presidential primary, held on Super Tuesday 1988, was Jesse Jackson. He beat Al Gore 45%-35%. Mike Dukakis ran a distant third.
This was great progress for Mississippi. But it also showed that many Mississippi whites had become Republicans.
(Jesse Jackson in 1983)
In 1992 George H.W. Bush, and in 1996 Bob Dole, won easy Republican victories over candidates that ran from the right.
Pat Buchanan ran poorly in both ‘92 and ‘96.
David Duke gave it a shot in 1996.
He was rejected by Republican voters.
Again, on one hand this was progress. Yet on the other hand, it reflected a mainstream Republican party that white voters felt comfortable with on issues of race.
2000 and 2004 produced unremarkable results in Mississippi. Republicans did not hold a primary in 2004 since President George W. Bush was the certain nominee.
(The Largemouth Bass is the official fish of Mississippi.)
The population of Mississippi is 2,910,540 (source: http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/28000.html).
You links about white primaries is undoubtedly an attempt to smear Mississippi with the broad brush of what happened years ago. Mississippi also has the highest percentage of black elected officials - where is that factoid? 25% of the Mississippi House delegation is black - granted, it’s one of four - how many other states have that high a percentage? It seems you are a reflex, kneejerk accuser about race in my state. Yes, I have some state pride - and I see nothing wrong about that. I will admit that we have a bad history regarding race and things could be better. But on the other hand, they are better than they were one or two generations ago - something worth noting in your commentary above.
You links about white primaries are undoubtedly an attempt to smear Mississippi with the broad brush of what happened years ago. Mississippi also has the highest percentage of black elected officials - where is that factoid? 25% of the Mississippi House delegation is black - granted, it’s one of four - how many other states have that high a percentage? It seems you are a reflex, kneejerk accuser about race in my state. Yes, I have some state pride - and I see nothing wrong about that. I will admit that we have a bad history regarding race and things could be better. But on the other hand, they are better than they were one or two generations ago - something worth noting in your commentary above.
an edit for an error in grammar..
Mr. Davis–Thanks for catching that mistake. I had the number right in front of me and just wrote the wrong thing.
Fielding–Most Mississippi black elected officials come from black-majority districts or cities.
I think the switch of Mississippi whites from an all-white Democratic Party to an almost all-white Republican Party makes one wonder.
That said, I included the links to explain the history.
Thank you for your comment.
Granted, most black elected officials do come from majority black districts - which is true nationwide, not just in Mississippi. The GOP has grown in my state not because it accepts racism (the underlying text of your commentary) but because we found the Demos on a national level to be moving further away from those values we hold dear - family, patriotism, faith to mention a few - and the GOP was moving toward a stronger embrace of same.
I am not trying to be persnickety, just bristling a bit at the same old story - “Mississippi is a racist state…”
I would encourage you to visit us here and see what it’s like on the ground and not rely on stories you hear or things you read. As is true for most places, the stereotypes are just that - stereotypes.
That being said, we have come a long way because we were so far down in the muck at one point. Things are better - come visit and see.
F -
First of all I think that anyone who used the word ‘persnickety’ in a comment should be commended.
Secondly, I don’t that TL is trying to paint Mississippi with a racist brush but it is clear that Mississippi like Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia and several other states have a racist history. Racism is a big part of that past. I know that Mississippi has improved but to deny the past is to misunderstand what has happened over the last 40 years.
I lived in Monroe, La for some time. Monroe is about 50 miles from the Mississippi border. As a Black surgeon, 95% of my patients respected my knowledge and accepted me. Another 4% tolerated me and then there was that one in the crowd but there is always going to be bad apples.
I appreciate your comments.
Obama won, as predicted. Dr. Thompson, I am not denying the state’s past problems - big huge ones, I would add - with race; but, I would rather look forward to the future than dwell on the past. It’s a bromide, I know, but the past cannot be changed, only lessons learned from it.
Monroe, I hear it’s a nice town - I haven’t been there. I live about a half mile inland from the Gulf and was here for Katrina.
It is my considered opinion that the South as whole will not be able to move forward until we set our sight in that direction. This is hardly the time or place for an extended debate. I can only hope that picture we display to the rest of the nation can be a positive one - and constantly (it seems to me) dwelling on the bad aspects of the past dims that portrait.
With kindest regards…
Thanks again for your comments. I think that they are thoughtful and insightful
I’m sorry that most of not all of what you had has been lost. Mississippi’s gulf coast was a unique place in America. It wasn’t like any coast line in the US. I had been to Biloxi on a couple of occasions. Beautiful place with a mixture of the old and the new.
I introduced my old department chairman once at a conference. I described him as a Southern Gentleman. I explained the honor, tradition and fairness of a true Southern Gentleman. I explained the complexity of Southern Gentleman.
I think that places like Mississippi are complex. I hope that you will visit my blog often and share your thoughts with us.
I am interested in what your concept of a “Southern Gentleman” might be and how it might be different and/or similar to my own. I have two boys and am trying to raise them as the same, as indeed, I consider myself one. Of course, this is VERY far afield from politics, heh heh.