Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce

Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce
General information
Office Type:	Partisan
Office website:	Official Link
Compensation:	$90,000
2025 FY Budget:	$29,386,233
Term limits:	None
Structure
Length of term:	4 years
Authority:	Mississippi Annotated Code, Title 25, Chapter
Selection Method:	Elected
Current Officeholder
Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson Republican Party Assumed office: 2018
Elections
Next election:	November 2, 2027
Last election:	November 7, 2023
Other Mississippi Executive Offices
Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Executive Director of Environmental Quality • Executive Director of Employment Security • Public Service Commission • Transportation Commission

The Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce is an elected state executive position in the Mississippi state government. The commissioner is elected to a four-year term. The Department of Agriculture and Commerce regulates and promotes state agricultural-related business and its products.

Current officeholder

The current officeholder is Andy Gipson (R). Gipson was appointed by Gov. Phil Bryant (R) after former officeholder Cindy Hyde-Smith was chosen to replace U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran in the U.S. Senate. Gipson began in April 2018.

Authority

The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce was created by an Act of the Mississippi legislature in 1906, which also provided for the election of the first agricultural and commerce commissioner. The office's authority is established by Title 25, Chapter 43 of the Mississippi Annotated Code:

The Commissioner of Agriculture is an officer of the executive branch of state government elected by the people pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. §69-9-1.

Qualifications

To qualify to run for agriculture and commerce commissioner, candidates must be:

• at least 25 years of age
• a qualified elector
• citizen of Mississippi for five years

Elections

Mississippi state government organizational chart

Mississippi elects agriculture commissioners to four-year terms during gubernatorial election years. For Mississippi, 2015, 2019, and 2023 are all agriculture commissioner election years.

Results

2023

See also: Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner election, 2023

General election

General election for Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce

Incumbent Andy Gipson defeated Robert Bradford in the general election for Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce on November 7, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Andy Gipson (R)	57.8	467,901
		Robert Bradford (D)	42.2	342,172

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 810,073
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce

Robert Bradford defeated Bethany Hill and Terry Rogers II in the Democratic primary for Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce on August 8, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Robert Bradford	51.7	99,748
		Bethany Hill	26.0	50,203
		Terry Rogers II	22.3	42,991

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3	Total votes: 192,942
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Robert Briggs (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce

Incumbent Andy Gipson advanced from the Republican primary for Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce on August 8, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Andy Gipson	100.0	351,194

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 351,194
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2019

See also: Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner election, 2019

General election

General election for Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce

Incumbent Andy Gipson defeated Rickey Cole in the general election for Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce on November 5, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Andy Gipson (R)	58.7	509,239
	Submit photo	Rickey Cole (D)	41.3	358,318

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 867,557
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce

Rickey Cole advanced from the Democratic primary for Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce on August 6, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Rickey Cole	100.0	254,523

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 254,523
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce

Incumbent Andy Gipson advanced from the Republican primary for Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce on August 6, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Andy Gipson	100.0	342,708

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 342,708
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2015

See also: Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture election, 2015

There was a regularly scheduled election for agriculture commissioner in 2015. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) was eligible for re-election. The primary election was scheduled for August 4, 2015, with the general election on November 3, 2015.

Full history

To view the electoral history dating back to 2003 for the office of Mississippi Commissionser of Agriculture and Commerce, click [show] to expand the section.

2011 See also: Mississippi down ballot state executive elections, 2011 On November 8, 2011, Cindy Hyde-Smith won election to the office of Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce. She defeated Joel Gill (Democrat) and Cathy L. Toole (Reform) in the general election. Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, 2011 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith 56.9% 493,417      Democratic Joel Gill 40.6% 352,213      Reform Cathy L. Toole 2.5% 21,347 Total Votes 866,977 Election results via Mississippi Secretary of State. 2007 On November 6, 2007, Lester Spell won re-election to the office of Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce. He defeated Rickey Cole (Democrat) and Paul L. Riley (Constitution) in the general election. Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, 2007 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Lester Spell Incumbent 51% 371,191      Democratic Rickey Cole 42.4% 308,693      Constitution Paul Leslie Riley 6.5% 47,647 Total Votes 727,531 Election results via Mississippi Secretary of State. 2003 On November 4, 2003, Lester Spell won re-election to the office of Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce. He defeated Max Phillips (Democrat) and Bob Claunch (Reform) in the general election. Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, 2003 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Lester Spell Incumbent 66.1% 564,283      Democratic Max Phillips 32.1% 274,097      Reform Bob Claunch 1.8% 15,229 Total Votes 853,609 Election results via Mississippi Secretary of State.

Vacancies

Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that details the process of filling vacancies for a state executive office. That information for the Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce has not yet been added. After extensive research, we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.

Duties

The Department of Agriculture and Commerce says that its mission is "to regulate and promote agricultural-related businesses within the state and to promote Mississippi's products throughout both the state and the rest of the world for the benefit of all Mississippi citizens."

Divisions

The Department of Agriculture and Commerce is under control of the commissioner. As of February 2021, it had eight bureaus and departments.

Agricultural & Livestock Theft Bureau

The Agricultural & Livestock Theft Bureau works to "enforce all the laws of the State enacted for the purpose of preventing the theft of livestock, agricultural and aquacultural products and implements; to make investigations of violations thereof and to arrest persons violating same."

Contact Agricultural Theft Bureau
Tip line: 1-800-678-2660 Mailing address: P.O. Box 1609 / Jackson, MS 39215 Phone: 601-359-1121

Board of Animal Health

The Board of Animal Health was created by the Mississippi Legislature to "deal with all contagious and infectious diseases of animals as in the opinion of the board may be prevented, controlled, or eradicated, and with full power to make, promulgate, and enforce such rules and regulations as may be necessary to control, eradicate and prevent those diseases."

Contact Board of Animal Health
Phone: 601-359-1170 Mailing address: P.O. Box 3889 / Jackson, MS 39207 Email: msstatevet@mdac.ms.gov Fax: 601-359-1177

Mississippi State Fairgrounds Complex

The Mississippi State Fairgrounds Complex "covers over 100 acres and hosts more than 700-event days per year."

Contact Mississippi State Fair Commission
Phone: 601-961-4000 Mailing address: P.O. Box 892 / Jackson, MS 39205 Fax: 601-354-6545

Mississippi Farmers Market

The Mississippi Farmers Market "was created to provide facilities for the efficient handling of farm products in the interest of the farmer, consumer, general public and the State of Mississippi."

Contact Farmers Market
Phone: 601-354-6573 Mailing address: P.O. Box 1609 / Jackson, MS 39215 Email: FarmersMarket@mdac.ms.gov Fax: 601-354-7330

Market Development

The Market Development Division is charged with "promoting and heightening the public's awareness of Mississippi 's agriculture commodities and the farmers and ranchers who produce them."

Contact Market Development
Phone: 601-359-1163 Mailing address: P.O. Box 1609 / Jackson, MS 39215 Fax: 601-354-6001

Bureau of Plant Industry

The Bureau of Plant Industry was established "to protect the agricultural and horticultural interests of the state from harmful insects, diseases, and weeds." It is a regulatory and service division of the Department of Agriculture and Commerce.

Contact Plant Industry
Phone: 662-325-3390 Mailing address: P.O. Box 5207 / Mississippi State, MS 39762 Fax: 662-325-8397

Bureau of Regulatory Services

The Bureau of Regulatory Services was designed "to protect the health and economic welfare of all citizens, to afford a measure of economic protection which citizens cannot provide for themselves, and to strive for equity in the market place which, when realized, works to the good of all citizens of this state."

Contact Regulatory Services
Phone: 601-359-1111 Mailing address: P.O. Box 1609 / Jackson, MS 39215 Fax: 601-359-1175

Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum/ National Agricultural Aviation Museum

Contact Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum/ National Agricultural Aviation Museum
Phone: (601) 432-4500 Address: 1150 Lakeland Drive Jackson, MS 39216 Fax: (601) 982-4292 Email: msagmuseum@mdac.ms.gov

State budget

See also: Mississippi state budget and finances

The Department of Agriculture and Commerce's budget for fiscal year 2025 was $29,386,233.

Compensation

See also: Compensation of state executive officers

2023

In 2023, the officer's salary was $90,000, according to the Council of State Governments.

2022

In 2022, the officer's salary was $90,000, according to the Council of State Governments.

2021

In 2021, the commissioner received a salary of $90,000, according to the Council of State Governments.

2020

In 2020, the commissioner received a salary of $90,000, according to the Council of State Governments.

2019

In 2019, the commissioner received a salary of $90,000, according to the Council of State Governments.

2018

In 2018, the commissioner received a salary of $90,000, according to the Council of State Governments.

2017

In 2017, the commissioner received a salary of $90,000, according to the Council of State Governments.

2016

In 2016, the commissioner received a salary of $90,000, according to the Council of State Governments.

2015

In 2015, the commissioner received a salary $90,000, according to the Council of State Governments.

2014

In 2014, the commissioner was paid an estimated $90,000, according to the Council of State Governments.

2013

In 2013, the commissioner was paid an estimated $90,000, according to the Council of State Governments.

2012

In 2012, the commissioner was paid an estimated $85,500, according to the Council of State Governments.

Historical officeholders

Since 1906, Mississippi has had 7 officeholders.

Click "show" for historical officeholders.

Number	Name	Took office	Left office	Party
1	Henry Edward Blakeslee	1906	1916
2	Peter Parley Garner	1916	1928
3	J.C. Holton	1928	1940
4	Silas Edward "Si" Corley	1940	1968
5	Jim Buck Ross	1968	1996
6	Lester Spell	1996	2012	Republican
7	Cindy Hyde-Smith	2012	2018	Republican
8	Andrew Gipson	2018	Present	Republican

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce - Google News

Contact information

Mississippi Department of Agriculture & Commerce

Physical address:
121 North Jefferson Street
Jackson, MS 39201

Mailing address:
P. O. Box 1609
Jackson, MS 39215

Phone: 601-359-1100 or 800-551-1830
Fax: 601-354-6290

See also

• Mississippi state executive offices
• Mississippi state executive officials

External links

Suggest a link

• Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce