Velesha P. Williams
Velesha P. Williams (Democratic Party) ran for election for Governor of Mississippi. She lost in the Democratic primary on August 6, 2019.
Williams completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Williams graduated from Jackson State University with a B.S. in 1983 and an M.A. in 1996. She served as an active duty officer in the U.S. Army from 1983 to 1992. Williams' professional experience includes working as an elementary teacher and as a director/PI for several federal- and state-funded programs for Jackson State University.[1]
Elections
2019
See also: Mississippi gubernatorial election, 2019
General election
General election for Governor of Mississippi
Tate Reeves defeated Jim Hood, David Singletary, and Bob Hickingbottom in the general election for Governor of Mississippi on November 5, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Tate Reeves (R) | 51.9 | 459,396 |
 | Jim Hood (D) | 46.8 | 414,368 | |
 | David Singletary (Independent)  | 1.0 | 8,522 | |
 | Bob Hickingbottom (Constitution Party) | 0.3 | 2,625 | |
| Total votes: 884,911 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = 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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Republican primary runoff election
Republican primary runoff for Governor of Mississippi
Tate Reeves defeated William Waller in the Republican primary runoff for Governor of Mississippi on August 27, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Tate Reeves | 54.1 | 179,623 |
 | William Waller | 45.9 | 152,201 | |
| Total votes: 331,824 | |||
| = 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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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of Mississippi
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Governor of Mississippi on August 6, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jim Hood | 69.0 | 208,634 |
 | Michael Brown | 11.0 | 33,247 | |
 | Velesha P. Williams | 6.9 | 20,844 | |
 | Robert Shuler Smith | 6.7 | 20,395 | |
| Robert Ray | 1.9 | 5,609 | ||
| William Compton | 1.8 | 5,321 | ||
 | Albert Wilson | 1.7 | 5,122 | |
| Gregory Wash | 1.1 | 3,218 | ||
| Total votes: 302,390 | |||
| = 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
- Phillip West (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Mississippi
Tate Reeves and William Waller advanced to a runoff. They defeated Robert Foster in the Republican primary for Governor of Mississippi on August 6, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Tate Reeves | 48.9 | 187,312 |
| ✔ | | William Waller | 33.4 | 128,010 |
 | Robert Foster | 17.7 | 67,758 | |
| Total votes: 383,080 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Campaign themes
2019
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Velesha P. Williams completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Williams' responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
1. Affordable Healthcare for all. 2. Quality Education 3. Economic Stability 4. Criminal Justice Reform 5. Restore our failing infrastructure 6. Protect our Environment
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Healthcare coverage for all. MS ranks 50th in healthcare, healthcare quality, and healthcare affordability. I will ensure we expand Medicaid.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Love, Honesty, Integrity, Selfless Service, Compassion, and Proven Leadership
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
Love, Honesty, Integrity, Selfless Service, Compassion, Duty, and over 30 years of leadership and service to my country, state and community.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
To provide for the health and well-being of Mississippians, attract Industries and business that are good for Mississippi and Mississppians. Ensure we have a thriving educational system and infrastructure, create a climate of livability, properly manage our resources and protected the environment.
What legacy would you like to leave?
Leadership resulting in affordable healthcare for all, quality education, economic stability, criminal justice reform, restored infrastructure, and environmental protection.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
Serving as an Active Duty Army Officer in the position of Company Commander; perparing soldiers for combat and their military occupational specialty.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
I worked for a short period of time, perhaps a month or two making pizza at a local pizza shop.
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
Christmas. It represents the birth of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
This Battle is Not Yours, it's the Lord's by Yalonda Adams.
A governor is the top executive authority in his or her state. What does that mean do you?
That I have an awesome responsibility to get it right. To manage to office effectively and efficiently as to create " A Better Mississippi for all Mississippians.
Governors have many responsibilities, which vary from state to state. Which of those do you personally consider the most important in your state?
To be a voice and advocate for the citizens of the state. Ensuring the health and wellbeing of all citizens is a priority.
Different states require governors to have different degrees of responsibility for the state budgeting process. If it were your choice, what do you believe is the appropriate degree of gubernatorial involvement with this process in your state?
The Governor should have the final approval and sign off authority on the state budget.
In most states, governors have the power to make line-item vetoes. If that is true in your state, what would be your philosophy for how and when to use this power?
I agree with this power. I would use it if the line item being proposed does not serve the needs of Mississippians.
What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?
A nonpartisan working relationship that puts the best interest of Mississippians at the forefront of all decisions.
What do you love most about your state?
The people and our potential to be great.
What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?
Resistance to change and the courage to do what is right in every situation.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Ballotpedia biographical submission form
The candidate completed Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form:
| “ | What is your political philosophy?
To be the voice and advocate for Mississippians. I intend to achieve Affordable Healthcare for All in our state, Quality Education, Economic Stability, Criminal Justice Reform, Stable Infrastructure, and Environmental Protection. Is there anything you would like to add? I am committed to serving all Mississippians with love, compassion, and commitment to move words to action. I will serve the office with honesty, integrity, and selfless service. I know that by working together we can create 'A Better Mississippi ALL. HERE. NOW'[2] |
” |
| —Velesha Williams[1] | ||
See also
2019 Elections
External links
Footnotes
