31 Facts About Tate Reeves

Jonathan Tate Reeves was born on June 5,1974 and is an American politician serving as the 65th governor of Mississippi since 2020.

Tate Reeves began work at Park South Corporation, leaving in 2000 to become a financial portfolio manager at Trustmark.

Tate Reeves won reelection in 2007 and went on to become lieutenant governor in 2012, holding the position until his inauguration as governor.

Tate Reeves was narrowly reelected in 2023, defeating Brandon Presley.

Tate Reeves's father founded a heating and air conditioning company in 1975 that became a multi-million-dollar business.

Tate Reeves then graduated from Millsaps College in Jackson with a degree in economics.

Tate Reeves played college basketball for two years before injuring his shoulder.

At Millsaps College, Tate Reeves was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order, a controversial fraternity that has faced accusations of racism.

Tate Reeves worked at Park South Corporation, a subsidiary of the Deposit Guaranty National Bank, which eventually merged into AmSouth.

In 2000, Reeves moved to Trustmark National Bank, where he was a financial portfolio manager until 2003, when he resigned to run for state treasurer.

Tate Reeves's father contributed $115,000 to his campaign, about one-fifth of its fundraising total.

In February 2011, Tate Reeves entered the race for lieutenant governor.

Tate Reeves ran for governor of Mississippi in the 2019 election.

Tate Reeves enjoyed substantial name recognition from his 16 years in statewide office, and had a significant fundraising advantage over his rivals for the Republican nomination, former state Supreme Court Justice Bill Waller Jr.

Tate Reeves opposed increasing the gas tax to fund road and bridge repairs, while Waller supported it.

On November 7,2023, Tate Reeves defeated the Democratic nominee, Brandon Presley, in the 2023 Mississippi gubernatorial election, winning reelection to a second term.

Tate Reeves initially said that the flag should be changed only by voter-approved referendum, but later reversed himself, saying that if the Mississippi legislature passed a bill to retire the flag without a referendum, he would sign it.

Amid the acceleration of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tate Reeves was accused of undermining efforts to contain the spread of the virus.

Tate Reeves implemented a "stay-at-home" order in April 2020, but allowed some retail businesses to reopen shortly thereafter.

In December 2020, although Tate Reeves urged the public to avoid large gatherings to prevent the further spread of the virus, his office invited legislators and other officials to at least three holiday parties at the Governor's Mansion.

Except for August 4 through September 30,2020, Reeves did not issue a statewide mask mandate in the state, setting only county-by-county mandates in locations with rapid increases in infections.

Effective April 30,2021, Tate Reeves ended COVID-19 restrictions through May 31,2021.

In 2021, Tate Reeves signed into law a narrower bill that expanded parole eligibility.

Tate Reeves rejected calls to grant a pardon or commutation to Tameka Drummer, a Mississippi inmate serving a life without parole sentence for the possession of less than two ounces of marijuana; Drummer was sentenced in 2008 under the state's habitual-offender law.

Tate Reeves opposed the initiative, but said he would honor "the will of the voters" who had overwhelmingly voted in favor of medical marijuana.

In 2024, Reeves joined five other Republican governors in a statement opposing the United Auto Workers unionization campaign.

In May 2022, Tate Reeves repeatedly refused to deny that he would ban birth control in Mississippi when questioned by anchor Jake Tapper.

In November 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Tate Reeves said he would veto any bill that expanded mail-in voting or no-excuse early voting.

Tate Reeves used his 2020 budget proposal to appeal to the conservative base.

In March 2021, Reeves acknowledged that Biden is the president of the United States and was "duly elected" but repeatedly refused to acknowledge that Biden was "legitimately and lawfully elected" or that the 2020 election was free and fair.

Tate Reeves is married to Elee Tate Reeves ; they have three daughters.