1971 Mississippi gubernatorial election

1971 Mississippi gubernatorial election
	County results ; Waller: 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90% >90% ; Evers: 40-50% 50-60% 60-70%
Governor before election; John Bell Williams; Democratic	Elected Governor ; Bill Waller; Democratic

The 1971 Mississippi gubernatorial election took place on 2 November 1971 for the post of Governor of Mississippi. The incumbent governor, Democrat John Bell Williams, was ineligible due to term limits, a rule that was changed to two back-to-back terms in the 1980s.^[1]

Democrat Bill Waller, the former District Attorney of Hinds County, was chosen as his party's nominee in a contested primary. Running as an independent, Mayor of Fayette Charles Evers became the first African-American candidate for Governor of Mississippi.^[2]

As of 2023, this is the most recent time that Rankin County voted Democratic in a gubernatorial election.

^ "Gov.-elect Bryant's 8 appointments could impact college board". November 22, 2011. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
^ McFadden, Robert D. (July 22, 2020). "Charles Evers, Businessman and Civil Rights Leader, Dies at 97". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 13, 2022.

[1] "Gov.-elect Bryant's 8 appointments could impact college board". November 22, 2011. Retrieved July 2, 2012.

[McFadden-2] McFadden, Robert D. (July 22, 2020). "Charles Evers, Businessman and Civil Rights Leader, Dies at 97". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 13, 2022.

[1]

[2]