Clay Wagner

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Clay Wagner

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

June 7, 2022

Personal

Profession

Business executive

Contact

Campaign website

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Clay Wagner (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Mississippi's 4th Congressional District. He lost in the Republican primary on June 7, 2022.

Biography

Clay Wagner lives in Kiln, Mississippi. Wagner's career experience includes working as the senior vice president of Hancock Whitney Bank. He has served as the chair of the Gulf Coast Chamber Foundation and the Hancock County Chamber Board.

Elections

2022

See also: Mississippi's 4th Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Mississippi District 4

Mike Ezell defeated Johnny DuPree and Alden Johnson in the general election for U.S. House Mississippi District 4 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mike Ezell (R)	73.3	127,813
		Johnny DuPree (D)	24.6	42,876
		Alden Johnson (L)	2.0	3,569

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 174,258
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Aaron Lee (Independent)
• Graham Hudson (Independent)

Republican primary runoff election

Republican primary runoff for U.S. House Mississippi District 4

Mike Ezell defeated incumbent Steven Palazzo in the Republican primary runoff for U.S. House Mississippi District 4 on June 28, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mike Ezell	53.8	31,225
		Steven Palazzo	46.2	26,849

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 58,074
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Mississippi District 4

Johnny DuPree defeated David Sellers in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Mississippi District 4 on June 7, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Johnny DuPree	84.9	9,952
		David Sellers	15.1	1,766

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 11,718
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Mississippi District 4

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Mississippi District 4 on June 7, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Steven Palazzo	31.5	16,387
✔		Mike Ezell	25.0	13,020
		Clay Wagner	22.5	11,698
		Brice Wiggins	9.3	4,859
		Carl Boyanton	6.2	3,224
		Raymond Brooks	4.6	2,405
		Kidron Peterson	0.9	449

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 52,042
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Louis Hook (R)

Libertarian primary election

The Libertarian primary election was canceled. Alden Johnson advanced from the Libertarian primary for U.S. House Mississippi District 4.

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Clay Wagner did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Wagner's campaign website stated the following:

“	JOBS / ECONOMY Helping to create more occupational opportunities in South Mississippi is my top priority. The future of Mississippi is based upon upcoming job growth. Clay will use his 40 years of business experience to enable job creation. Economy A two-part “common sense” plan for getting our economy back on track. 1. Putting the brakes on our country’s inflation issue. We must stop devaluing our own country’s currency. A stop in the excessive printing of money is a must. An irresponsible stimulus program has caused the market to have too many dollars and not enough goods. The effect is an increase in the cost of goods. Without proper guidance on these programs, out-of-control inflation is a quick response to this unhealthy market. 2. Stop unnecessary federal spending in a market that is not ready. America has seen a deficit of a similar magnitude after World War II. A healthy economy and spending restraint helped to get the deficit in control. We need a businessman who can show that restraint and has a vision for a healthy economy. Job Creation Clay will use his experience and an open mind as he works with business owners and economic developers on creating new pathways for occupational opportunities. 1. An educated workforce is the first major step to a healthy market. Evaluating ways to improve STEM programs and applicable vocational programs to create pathways to better long-term job opportunities. 2. Rebuilding a country’s labor force. The pandemic created an early retirement program for millions of Americans, but this is not an excuse to create pathways for illegal immigration hires. We must protect American jobs domestically by ensuring that those jobs are not taken by illegal immigrants who don’t pay taxes. 3. Embracing applicable vocational training is the next great training tool for our workforce. Many industries thrive with a labor base that is vocationally trained in niche markets. Understanding the need and providing the service will go a long way in improving this shortage. TAXES AND REGULATION Over taxation and regulation are handcuffing the American people and an economy that wants to thrive. Regulation Federal regulation and oversight have caused the suffocation of all industries. The instant relief the economy would see after regulations are lifted would be recognizable to the retirement accounts of all Americans. The United States of America used to create over 800,000 companies annually in the 1990s. In large part, regulation has cut those numbers in half to 400,000. Taxes A misuse of taxation by politicians is causing a negative outcome to the wallets of millions of Americans. It takes a businessman to fix business problems. These problems were caused by politicians who do not understand simple tax practices. Weak Republicans stopped Trump from simplifying the tax code. Clay Wagner will stand against weak Republicans and Democrats who get in the way of what is right for the American people. An optional Simple Tax Code would save the American people millions of hours of wasted time and create beneficial financial outcomes for all Americans. CONSERVATIVE VALUES Clay believes conservative values are what has kept this country afloat for over two centuries. The bending of these values that were laid as the foundation of our country will be the end of our democracy as we know it. Liberals do not want to take a certain type of gun, they want to take all guns away from the American people. As a lifelong outdoorsman, member of the NRA, and former Wildlife Commissioner, Clay will fight to protect the SECOND AMENDMENT at all costs. Federal spending that enables unethical organizations such as Planned Parenthood must be put to a stop. Clay Wagner will fight laws that are deteriorating INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS such as the natural and inalienable rights to life, liberty, and property along with Constitutional rights we hold dear such as free speech and the free exercise of religion and the ability to build wealth and defend ourselves and our families. FOREIGN POLICY AND MILITARY One of the main responsibilities of the federal government is the duty of keeping the United States safe from foreign states and domestic threats. Many of the most pressing foreign policy issues that face our country are aligned with keeping our military strong and in a position to protect the American people. Congress must not be a roadblock in this protection. As world powers such as China and Russia continue to impose national security threats on our soil, utilizing military strength and our economic leverage on these threats is key to the future safety inside of our borders. Our military budget must have a “common sense” audit that ensures American tax dollars are not being abused, while also ensuring our brave men and women who protect us every day have the resources they need to succeed. VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS Wagner will always prioritize the brave men and women who have kept us safe both abroad and domestically. Who would have thought 20 years ago that an illegal immigrant would have more rights and opportunities than a homeless veteran? Congress must protect recent bipartisan reforms passed under the Trump administration that ensure veterans have the choice to seek out whatever healthcare plan is best for them. Ensure that accountability is upheld for all employees working at the VA. Veterans should receive the best customer service out there. No exceptions. Clay Wagner will fight to ensure that families of first responders will always be taken care of and have the ability to receive whatever resources they may need. First responders fight every day to make sure our communities are safe so we must do everything in our power to ensure that their families are safe as well. IMMIGRATION We have one of the most unsecure borders in the world and it is a major national security threat. Illegal immigration causes a negative ripple effect on the economy, our healthcare system, and public safety. The border police are overrun. They need federal help. Wagner will push for additional resources to back up the border police until the illegal immigration problem is under control. Wagner will help to create a simple LEGAL IMMIGRATION system that makes it easier for immigrants that want to come to America the right way and safer for the American people. EDUCATION America’s future is centered around an improved education system. Our public education systems must be classified at the top of the world rankings for that future to be bright. Adapting our education training to a world that needs workers in new industries is step one. We must create pathways to fill the jobs that are needed now, not the jobs that were needed in the past. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) must be a larger priority in our public education systems, NOT CRITICAL RACE THEORY. A stronger education system equals a stronger workforce. As we build on this future, the economic fruit will be the long-term results. STATE’S RIGHTS Most decisions should be left up to the states. Not the federal government. Some of the biggest problems our country is facing right now is due to too much federal involvement in state’s business. Mississippians can run our lives better than Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi can. Career politicians have gotten too arrogant and believe that they can govern a country of 330 million citizens all the same way. The United States of America was designed to have 50 states operating independently with the protection of the federal government. The beauty of our great country is if you do not like how a state is run, you have the option to move to another state. State’s should not be dependent on the federal government to fix their problems. PRO PEOPLE SOLUTIONS It is the job of a congressman to listen to the needs of their constituents and ensure that those needs are met. Clay Wagner will ensure that portals of communication remain open so he can stay up to date on what is going on in the district. Those portals will include town halls, phone lines, easy email access, and social media. Clay Wagner believes Americans know what is best for their families in all ways of life – including education, healthcare, and how to keep their families safe.	”
—Clay Wagner's campaign website (2022)

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2022 Elections

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Candidate

U.S. House Mississippi District 4

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Footnotes

[show]

Mississippi's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)

Roger Wicker (R)

Representatives

District 1

Trent Kelly (R)

District 2

Bennie Thompson (D)

District 3

Michael Guest (R)

District 4

Mike Ezell (R)

Republican Party (5)

Democratic Party (1)