Andy Gipson held his first official fundraiser in Magee Tuesday evening, September 9 at The McAlpin House to kick off his campaign for governor in 2027. About 100 citizens attended.
“I want to kick off my tour around the state right here in Magee, right in my own backyard among the people. I’m fired up to be here. We’re excited to see everybody tonight. And I want to thank Miss Gloria for being so gracious to offer this for our first official campaign event,” Gipson stated.
“I feel real good about the campaign. You know I’m the first one out of the gate so I don’t know who else is going to run, but I can tell you since I announced I was going to run for governor I’ve had overwhelming support across the state from the north part of the state to the Coast and all in between. I appreciate that. I also don’t take it for granted. It’s a long time till election day.”
Gipson is already listening to the concerns of the people. “I’ve been praying about this for a long time. I’ve been in every county multiple times. Every time people would come up to me and say ‘we need you to run for governor; will you run? Are you running?’”
This past spring Gipson and his wife Leslie went to a ranch in Montana where their son Joe works. They spent two days praying over this decision. “The Lord told me to do it and do it now.”
Gipson plans to bring the same principles he used at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds dealing with public safety issues to smaller towns to “keep the criminal element from taking over our small towns and communities.”
He also commented briefly about state matters like roads and bridges improvements, government efficiency – doing more with less – the concerns over the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). As agriculture commissioner Gipson pointed out he consolidated three agencies into one by moving the Fair Commission and the Farmer’s Market into the Department of Agriculture saving taxpayer’s dollars.
Gipson will begin traveling the state as early as this week to let people know he is running for governor along with getting their ideas. “The people know what the issues are. I have a motto: listen, learn then lead. I’ve applied that in everything I’ve done. God has blessed my efforts so I’m not going to do it any differently this time.”
His ultimate goal is to make Mississippi a great place to live. “But it could be a better place to live and raise our families and have a career.”
Gipson concluded, “I think the people of Mississippi are looking for someone who is a proven conservative leader and I respectfully submit I’m that candidate. You don’t have to wonder where I stand. You can look at my record, it speaks for itself. Not only that I’ve done what I said I would do and I will continue to do that as governor.”
