With the recent announcement that Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, will not be seeking reelection in 2023, Speaker Pro Tempore Jason White, R-West, has emerged as a favorite to fill Gunn’s soon-to-be vacant seat.
During a Wednesday interview on The Gallo Show, White made it clear that his intention is to become Mississippi’s next speaker, and that he has been encouraged to do so by both colleagues and voters across the state.
“I’m not hiding the fact that I would want to run for speaker. I’ve been encouraged to do that by my colleagues and folks have been very supportive,” White said.
Although White has aspirations to become speaker, he reminds people that Gunn still has another session to go before stepping away.
“Unless the speaker leaves us early, he’ll be speaker until the end of next year,” White said. “He’s still got a year to serve, so I’m going to continue my role as pro tem.”
Following the 2023 elections, the Mississippi House of Representatives will hold a vote for who will be the next speaker of the House going into the 2024 legislative session.
The full interview with White can be watched below.
