House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, left, confers with Speaker Pro Tempore Jason White, R-West, during a meeting of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, Friday, March 25, 2022, at the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Incoming members of the House Republican Caucus choose State Rep. Jason White, the current Speaker Pro Tem, for new Speaker of the House, and State Rep. Manly Barton as Speaker Pro Tem.
On Wednesday morning, members of the incoming Mississippi House Republican Caucus met at the Annandale Golf Club in Madison and held an unofficial vote for the new Speaker of the House, replacing Philip Gunn who has led the chamber since the GOP took the majority in 2012.
Gunn chose not to seek re-election.
“Both of those men have been fantastic leaders in the Republican Caucus ever since they were elected 12 years ago,” Speaker Gunn told Magnolia Tribune. “They have been incredibly valuable to me personally and I consider them great friends. I am not surprised their colleagues elected them to fill these roles. I believe the House of representatives will be in good hands.”
The Republican members, who will be sworn in come January 2024, selected the current Speaker Pro Tem, State Representative Jason White, to be their Speaker nominee while also tapping State Representative Manly Barton to serve as Speaker Pro Tempore.
This vote of the incoming GOP members indicates White and Barton are the odds-on favorites to be the next Speaker and Speaker Pro Tem given that Republicans hold a supermajority in the Mississippi House.
Sources say the vote was unanimous, with White and Barton being elected by acclamation. White confirmed the vote in a statement to Magnolia Tribune.
“I am humbled to be unanimously selected as the Republican nominee for the Mississippi Speaker of the House by the Republican Caucus alongside Manley Barton as the nominee for Speaker Pro Tempore,” White said. “Mississippi has made tremendous strides over the previous twelve years of conservative Republican leadership and has greatly prospered under Speaker Philip Gunn. I appreciate the trust my fellow Republicans have now placed in me as the nominee for Speaker. I am energized going into the 2024 Legislative Session and I look forward to addressing the challenges and opportunities facing our state with conservative policies and principles.”
The Speaker of the House is voted on by members of the House of Representatives and is the presiding officer over the chamber.
When voted on by the House, State Representative White will succeed Speaker Gunn who when elected in 2012 to serve as Speaker was the first Republican to hold the position in 136 years.
White has represented House District 48, which comprises Attalla, Carrol, Holmes and Leake Counties, since 2012. He was originally elected as a Democrat in 2011 but changed his party affiliation to Republican in December 2012. He ran unopposed in the most recent election.
The new Speaker Pro Tempore also began his service in the House in 2012. State Representative Barton represents House District 109, which includes George and Jackson Counties. He is the Local and Private Committee Chairman and also sits on Appropriations, Education, Ethics, and Rules committees.
Barton previously served as a Jackson County Supervisor for 12 years. He is the recipient of the Military Order Purple Heart, and member of the American Legion, VFW, NRA, and East Central Civic Association.
“I’m really looking forward to the session starting and taking on a new role, and representing Jackson County as best as possible,” Barton told Magnolia Tribune.
The Mississippi House Democratic Caucus, currently led by State Representative Robert Johnson, could nominate one of their members for Speaker as well. However, whether a nomination will come forward from House Democrats has not been made public at this time.
Mississippi House Republicans grew their supermajority in the 2023 election cycle by picking up two seats, bringing their total to 79 out of the 122 members. Democrats will hold 41 seats in the chamber. Two Independents also won re-election.
