Another candidate has entered the race to be Mississippi’s next auditor.
Veteran finance lawyer C. Phillip “Phil” Buffington Jr. announced his candidacy on Tuesday. He is running as a Republican. The Ole Miss and Mississippi College School of Law, now Mississippi Christian University School of Law, graduate boasts that his years of experience advising community banks, financial institutions, and businesses qualify him for the office.
“I’m running for Mississippi State Auditor because I believe the people of Mississippi deserve a person who wants to make sure your tax dollars are not wasted or stolen and a government that is transparent, accountable, and responsible with every taxpayer dollar,” Buffington said. “Leadership in Mississippi means more than holding an elected office; it also means helping prevent fraud, earning trust and protecting taxpayer dollars, and developing a vision for the future. The Auditor’s office should be about professionalism. It should be about protecting the public trust and working with others to make government better for all.”
As a partner and financial services-community bank team leader at Balch & Bingham LLP, Buffington has spent his career guiding financial institutions through complex state and federal banking laws, risk assessments, and corporate governance. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Mississippi Christian School of Law, teaching banking law and business planning, and has earned recognition as a successful lawyer, including being named lawyer of the year in commercial finance law in 2018 by Best Lawyers.
If elected, Buffington says he will use his experience to provide fiscal stewardship, corporate governance, and fraud prevention to the state. His platform will also focus on bringing stronger controls to state agencies to stop financial abuse, ensure taxpayer funds are used efficiently, and implement cybersecurity standards for state financial systems.
“I know that a traditional audit may tell us whether money was spent legally, and that is essential, but I also believe citizens deserve to know what was accomplished with the money spent, whether the expenditure solved the problem, and if there was a more efficient or more effective way to achieve the same result,” Buffington said.
“For more than 35 years, I have worked with financial institutions and businesses to assess risk, strengthen governance, navigate complex regulations, ensure compliance, make responsible financial decisions, and hold people accountable,” he continued. “Throughout my career, I have seen the importance of strong oversight, sound management, and leaders who take their responsibility to safeguard the resources entrusted to them.”
Buffington joins two other Republicans, former state Rep. Nick Bain and state Sen. Daniel Sparks, currently in the race for state auditor, which will be held alongside other statewide elections in 2027. All three are looking to replace Shad White, whose team told SuperTalk Mississippi News in May that he is not seeking another term as state auditor. White has teased a potential run for governor in the 2027 cycle.
RELATED: ‘It’s too early’: Shad White focusing on midterms before announcing future political move
“As a lifelong Mississippian, I care deeply about the future of our state,” Buffington said. “I’m running to bring my executive and legal experience, independence, and commitment to public service to the Auditor’s Office. I am running because I want to be your next Auditor, not because it is the next stop on a political career. I pledge to be a champion for taxpayers, helping to prevent fraud, ensuring public funds are properly managed, identifying waste and wrongdoing, and holding the government accountable.”
So far, no Democrats have entered the race, but the party plans to begin rolling out its preferred candidates after the midterms. Primaries will be held next August, with the general following in November.
