Mississippi State Auditor Shad White Launches Gubernatorial Campaign

Mississippi State Auditor Shad White announced his candidacy for governor, aiming to address corruption and political insiders in the state. His office has identified over $75 million in taxpayer funds that were either stolen or misspent over the past eight years. White expressed his commitment to restoring accountability and transparency in state governance.

White, a supporter of former President Donald Trump and a veteran of Operation Epic Fury in Iran, emphasized the need to eliminate wasteful spending. He criticized the political climate in Jackson, stating, “There might be two parties in Jackson, but there’s only one good ol’ boys’ club.” He pledged to rectify this as governor.

“The reason I’m running is because we absolutely have to cut down on the fraud and corruption plaguing Mississippi,” White said. “People are hurting right now. What we unfortunately have here in Mississippi is a lack of political courage.”

White highlighted the courage he witnessed among service members overseas compared to the political courage displayed by Mississippi’s officials. He referenced his service with the Mississippi National Guard in 2026.

In a recent report, White’s office uncovered that Mississippi provided more than $10.5 million in Medicaid benefits to illegal immigrants. His investigations have revealed over $77 million in misspent welfare funds as part of a broad enforcement campaign targeting public fraud.

White’s economic platform focuses on tax reduction and easing financial burdens. He promised to cut grocery and car taxes, and to freeze property taxes, aiming to provide relief for Mississippi families.

“Mississippi families are getting squeezed at the grocery store, for their car tags, and every time the property tax bill shows up,” White stated. “We’re going to take the money they’ve wasted and give it back to the people who earned it.”

White will join a competitive gubernatorial race alongside Attorney General Lynn Fitch, Agriculture and Commerce Commissioner Andy Gipson, former House Speaker Philip Gunn, and former Democratic Senate primary candidate Priscilla W. Till. The race seeks to find a successor to Republican Governor Tate Reeves, who is barred by term limits from running again in 2027.

Additionally, White emphasized his commitment to supporting the state’s military families and veterans, drawing on his personal military experience. “I know what veterans go through about how hard it is to leave your family, how difficult it is to fight for the benefits that you have been promised by the government,” White said.

The Mississippi gubernatorial election is set for November 2027.