Mississippi

Mississippi entered the Union on December 10, 1817 as the 20th state. Mississippi’s political story runs from frontier settlement and the cotton economy to Reconstruction, civil-rights struggle, and continuing debates over representation and opportunity. Today its state government is centered in Jackson and follows the familiar pattern of a governor and a bicameral legislature with a Senate and House of Representatives.

Median household income$54,203
Poverty rate18.0%
Median age39.3
GovernorTate Reeves (Republican)
Next statewide electionNovember 3, 2026

Government & Representation

Use this section to understand how the state organizes executive authority, legislative power, and federal representation.

Mississippi’s state government is led by an elected governor and a bicameral legislature made up of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The state’s structure places lawmaking and budget decisions in Jackson while linking statewide authority to county and local institutions.