Tate Reeves

Jonathan Tate Reeves (born June 5, 1974) is an American politician serving since 2020 as the 65th governor of Mississippi.

Tate Reeves was born on June 5, 1974.

A native of Rankin County, Mississippi, Reeves is the eldest son of Terry Reeves and Dianne Peeples.

Reeves's father founded a heating and air conditioning company in 1975 that became a multi-million-dollar business.

Reeves graduated from Florence High School in Florence.

He then graduated from Millsaps College in Jackson with a degree in economics.

He played college basketball for two years before injuring his shoulder.

At Millsaps College, Reeves was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order, a controversial fraternity that has faced accusations of racism.

Born in Florence, Mississippi, Reeves graduated from Florence High School in 1992 and Millsaps College in 1996.

After receiving his degree in economics, he became a Chartered Financial Analyst.

After graduating from college in 1996, Reeves became a Chartered Financial Analyst.

He worked at Park South Corporation, a subsidiary of the Deposit Guaranty National Bank, which eventually merged into AmSouth.

He began work at Park South Corporation, leaving in 2000 to become a financial portfolio manager at Trustmark.

Reeves entered the race for Mississippi state treasurer after Democratic incumbent Marshall G. Bennett announced he would not run.

In the Republican primary runoff, he defeated former Central District Transportation Commissioner Wayne Burkes.

In the general election, he defeated Democratic nominee Gary Anderson.

In 2000, Reeves moved to Trustmark National Bank, where he was a financial portfolio manager until 2003, when he resigned to run for state treasurer.

Reeves sought the post of Mississippi state treasurer in the 2003 election; it was an open seat, as Democratic incumbent Marshall G. Bennett was retiring.

In the 2003 Republican primary election, Reeves faced former Central District Transportation Commissioner Wayne Burkes of Brandon and State Representative Andrew Ketchings of Natchez.

In the Republican primary election, Reeves led with 49% of the vote, with Burkes in second place.

Because no candidate achieved a majority, Reeves and Burkes had a runoff election; Reeves defeated Burkes in the runoff, which had low turnout.

In the general election, Reeves defeated Democratic nominee Gary Anderson, the state director of finance and administration, 52% to 46%.

Anderson has substantially more experience than Reeves, but Reeves's campaign raised and spent substantially more money.

Observers also cited racial prejudice (Anderson is African American) as another factor that may have contributed to Anderson's loss.

Reeves's father contributed $115,000 to his campaign, about one-fifth of its fundraising total.

Reeves's election made him the first Republican to hold the position of Mississippi state treasurer, as well as the youngest statewide elected official in the modern history of the state.

He won reelection in 2007 and went on to become lieutenant governor in 2012, holding the position until his inauguration as governor.

In 2007, Reeves won reelection with about 60% of the vote, defeating Democratic candidate Shawn O'Hara.

In February 2011, Reeves entered the race for lieutenant governor.

In the August Republican primary, he defeated Mississippi State Senate president pro tempore Billy Hewes of Gulfport, 123,389 votes to 162,857.

In the November general election, he was elected lieutenant governor, succeeding Phil Bryant, who was elected to his first term as governor.

Reeves ran without Democratic opposition; he received 80.35% of the vote; Reform Party candidate Tracella Lou O'Hara Hill received 19.65%.

As lieutenant governor, Reeves was president of the state Senate, and he used his position to prevent Medicaid expansion from receiving a floor vote, and to block an increase in the gas tax to fund repairs to roads and to Mississippi's many structurally deficient bridges.

A member of the Republican Party, Reeves served as the 32nd lieutenant governor of Mississippi from 2012 to 2020 and as the 53rd Mississippi State Treasurer from 2004 to 2012.

Reeves won reelection as lieutenant governor on November 3, 2015, defeating three opponents, including state Senator Timothy L. Johnson, a Republican-turned-Democrat.

Reeves was chosen as his party's nominee in the 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial election, defeating former state Supreme Court Justice Bill Waller Jr.. and State Representative Robert Foster.

In the general election, he narrowly defeated Attorney General Jim Hood.

During his tenure, Reeves has changed the state flag, undermined efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, opposed vaccine requirements, and legalized medical cannabis.

He was narrowly reelected in 2023, defeating Brandon Presley.

In 2019, yearbook photos surfaced showing members in blackface and Confederate uniforms, but it is unclear whether Reeves was involved.