Mississippi State Auditor Shad White gave a teaser about his possible future political aspirations.
After informing SuperTalk Mississippi News in May that he is not seeking a third term as auditor, White’s team on Tuesday announced that the state official will be more politically active once he returns from an overseas mission. Along with his civic duty as auditor, White is a captain in the Mississippi National Guard. His team said he is currently deployed in the Middle East, where he is participating in the ongoing American-Israeli conflict with Iran.
Once he returns, however, White plans to support Republican hopefuls in Congressional midterm races in an attempt to ensure that the GOP remains the majority party in both chambers of Congress. While the auditor’s team did not expound on those plans, it emphasized that White is looking to back President Donald Trump’s efforts as they relate to the November elections.
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After the midterms wrap up, White’s team said the auditor will weigh in on the Mississippi governor’s race. While not announcing a bid for the state’s highest office, White’s name has been floated as a possible candidate.
“Auditor White is deployed overseas in the Middle East with the National Guard right now during this conflict with Iran. When he returns from his deployment, his focus will be on helping President Trump keep Republican control of Congress so he can continue delivering wins for the American people,” Clinton Soffer, general consultant for the Shad White campaign, said.
“Auditor White will have plenty to say about the Governor’s race after the midterms.”
The statement from White’s team came hours after Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch launched her candidacy to represent the Republican Party in the state’s 2027 gubernatorial election. Fitch and White have long feuded politically, with the primary scuffle between the two being related to the investigation into the largest welfare scandal in state history.
White has criticized the attorney general’s handling of the scandal, which entailed more than $100 million intended for the state’s poorest residents allegedly being abused by people in power. Specifically, in 2024, White attempted to sue Brett Favre for the NFL Hall of Fame quarterback’s alleged role in misspending taxpayer dollars.
Fitch took White to court shortly after he filed the suit, challenging his ability to sue on behalf of the state of Mississippi, though the auditor maintained that state law granted him the authority to pursue lawsuits like the one against Favre. The Mississippi Supreme Court sided with the attorney general in June, ruling that Fitch had exclusive authority to litigate such cases.
As for the Mississippi governor’s race, White has not shied away from telling prospective voters and the media that he is weighing the prospect of announcing a bid for the Republican nomination. With under a year remaining until the primary, the clock is ticking for White and other notable figures to either get in the race or preemptively bow out.
Currently, Fitch joins Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson and former House Speaker Philip Gunn in a crowding GOP field. White, along with Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and business tycoon Tommy Duff, is at the top of the list of possible heavyweights who have yet to launch a bid for the governor’s office.
