Current:Home > StocksMississippi governor says he wants young people to stop leaving the state-LoTradeCoin
Mississippi governor says he wants young people to stop leaving the state
View Date:2024-12-23 21:11:34
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Republican Gov. Tate Reeves used the theme “Mississippi Forever” on Tuesday as he was inaugurated for his second term, saying he wants to curb the trend of young people leaving to pursue careers in other places.
“For too many decades, Mississippi’s most valuable export has not been our cotton or even our culture. It’s been our kids,” Reeves told lawmakers, state officials and several international diplomats during a ceremony outside the state Capitol on a chilly, blustery day.
He said people from Mississippi hold prominent positions in government, business and entertainment.
“They made other places better, and we missed out on all they could have done here at home,” he said.
Reeves, 49, campaigned last year by focusing on tax cuts, job creation, low unemployment and improvements in education. He also cast his Democratic opponent as a liberal backed by out-of-state donors who were out of step with Mississippi.
Reeves held two other statewide elected offices before becoming governor four years ago. He served two terms as treasurer and two as lieutenant governor.
The state lifted its ban on gubernatorial succession in the 1980s, and Reeves is the fourth Mississippi governor to win two consecutive terms. Republicans have held the Mississippi governorship the past 20 years.
The November general election was unusually competitive in a state where Republicans control all statewide offices and both chambers of the Legislature.
Reeves received nearly 51% of the vote to defeat Democrat Brandon Presley, who received nearly 48%, and independent Gwendolyn Gray, who received just over 1%.
Presley, a state utility regulator and second cousin of Elvis Presley, said Reeves had hurt the state by refusing to expand Medicaid to cover people working lower-wage jobs that do not provide health insurance. Presley pledged to clean up corruption, pointing to welfare money that was spent on pet projects for the wealthy and well-connected rather than aid for some of the poorest people in one of the poorest states in the nation.
veryGood! (4)
Related
- How many dog breeds are there? A guide to groups recognized in the US
- Abortion rights opponents and supporters seize on report that Trump privately pushes 16-week ban
- 'Bob Marley: One Love' overperforms at No. 1, while 'Madame Web' bombs at box office
- 16-year-old Taylor Swift fan killed in car collision en route to concert in Australia
- Texas man accused of supporting ISIS charged in federal court
- Laura Merritt Walker Thanks Fans for Helping to Carry Us Through the Impossible After Son's Death
- ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ stirs up $27.7M weekend, ‘Madame Web’ flops
- Laura Merritt Walker Thanks Fans for Helping to Carry Us Through the Impossible After Son's Death
- New Orleans marks with parade the 64th anniversary of 4 little girls integrating city schools
- Greece becomes first Orthodox Christian country to legalize same-sex civil marriage, adoption
Ranking
- Kristin Cavallari's Ex Mark Estes Jokingly Proposed to This Love Island USA Star
- 75th George Polk Awards honor coverage of Middle East and Ukraine wars, Supreme Court and Elon Musk
- Waffle House shooting in Indianapolis leaves 1 dead, 5 injured, police say
- NBA All-Star weekend: Mac McClung defends dunk title, Steph vs. Sabrina captivates
- Sam LaPorta injury update: Lions TE injures shoulder, 'might miss' Week 11
- Kelly Ripa's Nutritionist Breaks Down What She Eats in a Typical Day
- Zimbabwe’s vice president says the government will block a scholarship for LGBTQ+ people
- The first Black 'Peanuts' character finally gets his origin story in animated special
Recommendation
-
My Little Pony finally hits the Toy Hall of Fame, alongside Phase 10 and Transformers
-
Is Rooney Mara expecting her second child with Joaquin Phoenix?
-
Adam Sandler Has Plenty of NSFW Jokes While Accepting People's Icon Award at 2024 People's Choice Awards
-
Colorado university mourns loss of two people found fatally shot in dorm; investigation ongoing
-
Donna Kelce Includes Sweet Nod to Taylor Swift During Today Appearance With Craig Melvin
-
2024 BAFTA Film Awards: See Every Star on the Red Carpet
-
California again braces for flooding as another wet winter storm hits the state
-
Take a Look at the Original Brat Pack Then and Now, Nearly 40 Years After The Breakfast Club