JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Republican Phil Bryant of Brandon has won the Mississippi governor’s race, succeeding term-limited Haley Barbour.
He defeated Democrat Johnny DuPree of Hattiesburg on Tuesday.
Barbour had flirted with running for the Republican nomination for president, but chose not to. He couldn’t seek a third term as governor.
The 56-year-old Bryant makes history as the first Republican to succeed another one as Mississippi governor in modern times. Barbour unseated a one-term Democrat in 2003.
DuPree is the first black candidate to win a major-party nomination for governor. He’s in his third term as mayor of Hattiesburg.
Bryant outspent DuPree 7-to-1.
Republicans have held the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion for four of the past five terms.