2019 MS Governor's race: on Principles & Values

Tate Reeves: AdWatch: defend "In God We Trust" on new car tag

He has since continued beating that drum, invoking the names of top Washington Democrats and "out of state liberals," Antifa, Nike and Colin Kaepernick, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Bernie Sanders, former President Barack Obama and Eric Holder while boasting of his endorsement from the NRA and vowing to defend the state's new license tag.

Tate Reeves: Mississippi is headed in the right direction

His strategy [is] to avoid talking about serious problems that still exist in the state as doing so could jeopardize his "good body of work" argument. When he does talk policy on the trail, he touts gains made during his eight years in office such as increasing test scores and employment rates rather than forward-looking solutions.

"I think it's a pretty difficult argument to make that Mississippi isn't in far better shape today than we were eight years ago, and I think that's why you're seeing people in places like these rally behind our campaign," Reeves said. "The voters know things are better off, and they know we're headed in the right direction."

Bill Waller: Service to God, to family, to state and country

As a lifelong conservative, I won elections three times to the Mississippi Supreme Court, and I was honored to be endorsed by the Mississippi Republican Party because of my record, values and principles. Given the undeniable landscape of this year's election, I am the conservative Republican with the best chance to win in November.

Robert Foster: Conservative outsider; aligned with Trump on social media

Waller, meanwhile, has long avoided partisan politics because of his time on the Mississippi Supreme Court. He left the court in January. After announcing his candidacy last month, he's sought to portray himself as a steady, more traditional Republican candidate. He's said he's not interested in courting Trump and has a better chance of beating Democrat Jim Hood, the current attorney general, in the November election. Waller's late father served as governor from 1972 to 1976.

Bill Waller: I'm a Republican; but voting in Democratic primaries ok

The Waller campaign says voting Democrat in primaries was not an indicator of party leanings or even a faux pas. Waller's vote in statewide Democrat primaries was done so he could vote in local elections he cared about that featured Democratic candidates he valued over Republican candidates. "Bill Waller is a conservative Republican who was endorsed by the Mississippi Republican Party when he was elected to the Supreme Court," said a statement issued by the campaign. "He's voted in Republican presidential primaries to support John McCain, Mitt Romney and Donald Trump.

Jim Hood: 1890s election law designed to disenfranchise blacks

It is generally conceded the language was added to the 1890s Constitution by the white ruling class as a safeguard to ensure that African Americans, who were still a majority in Mississippi, would not win election to statewide office. By that time, laws also were being put in place to disenfranchise black voters and legislative districts were not based on population.

Legislation to change the Constitution so that the top vote-getter would win statewide posts is likely to die this session as it has in other sessions.

Ronnie Musgrove: 1999: elected by state House vote, after plurality win

After the 1999 election, one of the most memorable votes in the history of the House occurred when Republican Mike Parker--who lost the popular vote--refused to concede to Musgrove in the race for governor. Musgrove won a plurality of the votes and amazingly both candidates won 61 of the state's 122 House districts. By a vote of 86 to 36 the Democratic-controlled House elected fellow Democrat Musgrove. Most argued that it only made sense that the person who won the most votes should win the Governor's Mansion.

Jim Hood: 1890 law requires winning majority AND state House districts

Jim Hood: End self-dealing in Jackson

"I'm tired of self-dealing in Jackson," Hood said. "People are more worried about paving private driveways than they are about anything else."

Phil Bryant: Created Imagine Mississippi PAC for post-term-limit career

Trent Lott: Led the Singing Senators, and started Seersucker Thursdays

"We had 9-11, the anthrax attack, impeachment of Clinton," Lott said. "But we managed to cut taxes, balance the budget, raise military pay."

Lott said Congress has become a mean and "dour" place, and it's affecting policy. "They don't have any fun," Lott said. "During my time in leadership I actually enjoyed it and had fun. They don't even smile any more. I had the Singing Senators quartet, and we started 'Seersucker Thursdays' so everyone would for one day look like a Southern politician," Lott said. "That's why I wore a kilt in the Senate one time--I had the worst looking legs in the Senate."