Lest we forget

It’s not always name recognition that wins

Lest we forget…. Analysis by Charlie Stogner

Dennis Murphree was Lt. Governor from 1924-1927, appointed governor on the death of Henry Whitfield, ran for governor and lost. He was again Lt. Governor from 1932-1936, ran for governor and lost. Once again he was Lt. Governor, again appointed governor on the death of Paul Johnson, Sr., ran for governor and lost.

Carroll Gartin was Lt. Governor from 1952-1960, ran for governor and lost.

William Winter was Lt. Governor from 1971-1975 and in 1975 and ran for governor leading the ticket in the First Primary only to lose to Cliff Finch in the run-off.

Evelyn Gandy was Lt. Governor from 1975-1979 and ran for governor. She too led the ticket in the First Primary only to lose to William Winter in the run-off.

That’s six times a seated Lt. Governor has had plenty name recognition, ran for governor and was rejected by the voters.

In 1963, then Lt. Governor Paul Johnson, Jr, using the theme, “stand tall with Paul” based on his belly to belly meeting with marshall McShane at Ole Miss when James Meredith was enrolled. It can be said James Meredith elected Paul Johnson, Jr.

In 1999, then Democrat Lt. Governor Ronnie Musgrove became9.6
governor after winning over Republican Congressman Mike Parket, 379,033 to 370,691 giving Musgrove 49.6% and Parker 48.5%. The election was determined by the Mississippi House of Representatives, strongly dominated by Democrats.

That’s twice a seated Lt. Governor has won the election.

However, four years later Musgrove, now governor, surely with plenty name recognition was upset by Haley Barbour.

As best I can determine this means that at least as far back as the 30’s, no Lt. Governor other than Johnson and Musgrove have been elevated to governor and these two only through extenuating circumstances.

But if we’re basing who is going to be elected due to name recognition, how many remember the name of the Vicksburg Senator who unseated three term Lt. Governor Brad Dye only to lose to a little known Senator turned Republican, Eddie Briggs?

Name recognition? Not in any way a guarantee of being elected governor.