Tate Reeves

Tate Reeves
Born	Jonathan Tate Reeves 5 6, 1974
Birthplace	Florence, Mississippi, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Title	Governor of Mississippi
Known for	65th Governor of Mississippi
Education	Millsaps College (BA)
Children	3
Website	[tatereeves.com Official site]

Jonathan Tate Reeves (born June 5, 1974) is an American politician serving as the 65th governor of Mississippi, a position he has held since January 14, 2020. A member of the Republican Party, Reeves previously served as the 32nd lieutenant governor of Mississippi from 2012 to 2020 and as the 53rd treasurer of Mississippi from 2004 to 2012. Born and raised in Florence, Mississippi, Reeves built a career in finance before entering public life at the age of 29, becoming one of the youngest statewide officeholders in Mississippi at the time of his election as treasurer. His tenure as governor has been defined by several notable policy actions, including signing legislation to change the Mississippi state flag to remove its Confederate emblem, managing the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, opposing vaccine requirements, signing legislation to legalize medical cannabis, and advocating for school choice initiatives. He won a closely contested reelection in 2023, defeating Democratic challenger Brandon Presley.

Early Life

Jonathan Tate Reeves was born on June 5, 1974, in Florence, Mississippi, a small city in Rankin County, located south of the state capital of Jackson. He grew up in Florence and attended Florence High School, from which he graduated in 1992. Details about his parents and family background during his upbringing are not extensively documented in available sources, though Reeves has long identified with the community of Florence and the broader central Mississippi region.

After completing high school, Reeves enrolled at Millsaps College, a private liberal arts college located in Jackson, Mississippi. He graduated from Millsaps in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics. Following his undergraduate education, Reeves pursued professional certification in finance, earning the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), a credential that requires passing a series of examinations and demonstrating professional experience in investment analysis and portfolio management.

Reeves began his career in the financial sector, initially working at Park South Corporation. He remained at the firm until 2000, when he departed to join Trustmark, a major Mississippi-based financial institution, where he served as a financial portfolio manager. His background in finance and investment management would later inform his approach to public policy, particularly in his roles overseeing state finances as treasurer and in crafting fiscal policy as lieutenant governor and governor.

Education

Reeves attended Florence High School in Florence, Mississippi, graduating in 1992. He then attended Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics in 1996. Following his graduation from Millsaps, Reeves obtained the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, a professional credential in the investment management and financial analysis field. His educational background in economics and finance served as the foundation for his pre-political career in the financial services industry and his subsequent roles in Mississippi state government, where he was involved in fiscal policy and treasury management.

Career

Finance Career

Before entering politics, Reeves worked in the private financial sector. He was employed at Park South Corporation following his graduation from Millsaps College. In 2000, he left Park South to become a financial portfolio manager at Trustmark, one of the largest financial institutions headquartered in Mississippi. His professional experience in finance and investment provided him with expertise in fiscal matters that he later applied in his public service roles.

State Treasurer (2004–2012)

Reeves entered Mississippi politics in 2003, when he launched a campaign for the office of state treasurer after the Democratic incumbent, Marshall G. Bennett, announced he would not seek reelection. In the Republican primary, Reeves advanced to a runoff election, where he defeated former Central District Transportation Commissioner Wayne Burkes. In the November 2003 general election, Reeves won the treasurer's office by defeating the Democratic nominee, Gary Anderson. At the time, his election represented part of a broader trend of Republican gains in statewide offices in Mississippi.

Reeves took office as the 53rd treasurer of Mississippi on January 13, 2004, serving under Governor Haley Barbour. In this capacity, he was responsible for the management of state funds, including investment of state assets and oversight of various financial programs. He succeeded Peyton Prospere in the position.

Reeves won reelection as state treasurer in 2007, securing a second term. He served in the role until January 10, 2012, when he was succeeded by Lynn Fitch, who went on to become the state's attorney general. His eight years as treasurer established his reputation as a fiscal conservative within the Mississippi Republican Party and positioned him for a run at higher office.

Lieutenant Governor (2012–2020)

In 2011, Reeves ran for the office of lieutenant governor of Mississippi. He won the Republican nomination and subsequently won the general election, becoming the 32nd lieutenant governor of the state. He took office on January 10, 2012, succeeding Phil Bryant, who had been elected governor.

In Mississippi's governmental structure, the lieutenant governor holds significant power as the presiding officer of the Mississippi State Senate, with authority over committee assignments and the legislative agenda in the upper chamber. Reeves served in this role under Governor Phil Bryant throughout his tenure. During his time as lieutenant governor, Reeves was involved in shaping the state's legislative priorities, including fiscal policy, education reform, and economic development initiatives.

Reeves served as lieutenant governor until January 14, 2020, when he was inaugurated as governor. He was succeeded as lieutenant governor by Delbert Hosemann.

2019 Gubernatorial Election

Reeves entered the 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial election as one of three major Republican candidates. He faced former Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Bill Waller Jr. and State Representative Robert Foster in the Republican primary. The initial primary did not produce a majority winner, resulting in a runoff between Reeves and Waller. Reeves won the runoff election, securing the Republican nomination for governor.

In the November 2019 general election, Reeves faced Democratic nominee Jim Hood, who was then serving as Mississippi's attorney general. The race was considered one of the most competitive gubernatorial contests in Mississippi in recent years. Reeves narrowly defeated Hood, winning the governorship.

Governor of Mississippi (2020–present)

Reeves was inaugurated as the 65th governor of Mississippi on January 14, 2020, succeeding Phil Bryant. His lieutenant governor is Delbert Hosemann.

COVID-19 Pandemic Response

Reeves's early tenure as governor was dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which reached Mississippi in March 2020. His management of the state's response became a source of significant public debate. Reeves issued various executive orders addressing business closures, gathering restrictions, and masking requirements, but his approach was characterized by a general inclination toward lifting restrictions earlier than many other state governors.

In the early stages of the pandemic, Reeves issued executive orders that at times overrode local municipal efforts to impose stricter public health measures. Reporting indicated that his administration's orders superseded certain COVID-19 restrictions that had been put in place by mayors in Mississippi cities. The New Yorker published a report examining how the governor's approach undermined containment efforts in the state.

As the pandemic progressed, Reeves reconsidered certain reopening measures following spikes in COVID-19 cases in the state. In April 2021, Reeves ended most remaining COVID-19 restrictions in the state while keeping a mask mandate in place for schools. He subsequently set an end date for the school mask mandate as well.

Reeves emerged as a vocal opponent of vaccine passports and mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirements. In an April 2021 interview with CNN, he spoke against the concept of vaccine passports, calling them inappropriate for the United States. He reiterated this position in subsequent media appearances, stating that vaccine passports were not beneficial for the country.

Change of State Flag

One of the most historically significant actions of Reeves's governorship was the changing of the flag of Mississippi. Mississippi had been the last U.S. state to feature the Confederate battle flag as part of its state flag design, a symbol that had long been a subject of controversy and calls for removal.

In June 2020, amid nationwide protests following the murder of George Floyd and a broader reckoning with Confederate symbols across the United States, the Mississippi Legislature passed a bill to retire the existing state flag and establish a commission to design a new one. Governor Reeves indicated that he would sign the bill if it passed the legislature. He signed the legislation into law, officially retiring the 1894 flag. The change was widely covered in national and international media and represented a significant moment in Mississippi's political history.

Confederate Heritage Month and Race

Reeves drew criticism in April 2021 when, in the same period that he was overseeing the state's pandemic response, he signed a proclamation designating April as "Confederate Heritage Month" in Mississippi. When questioned about the declaration, Reeves stated, "There is not systemic racism" in the United States. The proclamation and his comments generated national media attention and controversy, particularly given the recent change to the state flag.

2020 Presidential Election

In December 2020, Mississippi's electors cast their votes for Donald Trump in the Electoral College. Reporting from Mississippi Today noted that top state officials, including those associated with Reeves's administration, cast doubt about the integrity of election results in other states during this period.

Medical Cannabis Legalization

During his governorship, Reeves signed legislation legalizing medical cannabis in Mississippi. The issue had been the subject of a lengthy political process in the state. There was debate over whether Reeves would call a special legislative session to address the matter. The legalization of medical cannabis represented a significant policy shift for Mississippi, a traditionally conservative state.

2023 Reelection

Reeves sought reelection in the 2023 Mississippi gubernatorial election. He faced Democratic challenger Brandon Presley, a member of the Mississippi Public Service Commission and a cousin of Elvis Presley. The race was competitive by Mississippi standards, but Reeves narrowly won reelection, continuing his tenure as governor.

Second Term Initiatives

In his second term, Reeves has focused on several policy priorities. He has been a prominent advocate for school choice programs. In early 2026, Reeves announced that he had opted Mississippi into the Federal Tax Credit Scholarship Program to promote school choice. Reporting from Mississippi Today noted that in his budget proposal, Reeves focused on expanding school choice rather than allocating funds for teacher pay raises, which was a point of contention with educators and some legislators.

In February 2026, Reeves signed a bill reforming Mississippi's certificate of need regulations, which govern the establishment and expansion of healthcare facilities in the state.

Also in early 2026, severe winter storms struck Mississippi, prompting Reeves to provide updates on the state's response and to request a Major Disaster Declaration for affected counties from the federal government.

In February 2026, Reeves postponed his annual State of the State address indefinitely, a move that drew attention from state media outlets.

Reeves also engaged in a public social media exchange with California Governor Gavin Newsom in February 2026, in which Reeves pointed to Mississippi's improvements in literacy rates as a counter to Newsom's criticisms of the state.

Personal Life

Reeves resides at the Governor's Mansion in Jackson, Mississippi. He and his wife have three children. He has maintained his residence in the central Mississippi area throughout his political career, having been born and raised in Florence.

Recognition

Reeves's signing of the legislation to change the Mississippi state flag in 2020 was one of the most widely reported actions of his governorship, receiving extensive national and international media coverage. The removal of the Confederate emblem from the last state flag in the United States to feature one was covered by outlets including NBC News, the Associated Press, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.

His COVID-19 pandemic response also placed him in the national spotlight, with his positions on vaccine passports and reopening covered by CNN, ABC News, the New Yorker, and other major outlets. Whether characterized as a defense of personal liberty or as an insufficient public health response, Reeves's handling of the pandemic generated significant public discourse and media attention during 2020 and 2021.

His 2023 reelection campaign against Brandon Presley drew national attention as one of the more competitive gubernatorial races in a traditionally Republican-leaning state.