DANFORD★FOR MISSISSIPPI GOVERNOR
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI • INDEPENDENT

ANDREW
DANFORD

FOR GOVERNOR

PEOPLE OVER THE PARTIES!

I'm Andrew Danford. I was born and raised in South Mississippi, and I believe the folks who work hard, raise families, and keep this state going deserve a real voice in what happens next.

My PrioritiesMeet Andrew
Andrew Danford with his family seated together
ROOTED IN MISSISSIPPI
MISSISSIPPI FIRST ★ INDEPENDENT VOICE ★ PEOPLE OVER THE PARTIES
GET TO KNOW ME

Nothing Was Handed to Me. Everything Was Earned.

My name is Andrew Danford. I'm a husband, a father, and I was born and raised right here in South Mississippi.

I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I didn't come from money, and I sure didn't have somebody handing me opportunities. Everything I've got today came from getting up, going to work, and doing whatever it took to provide for my family.

I started at the bottom as a laborer, worked my way up to a journeyman pipefitter, and eventually into supervision, project management, and safety management. I've worked in refineries, chemical plants, and nuclear facilities all across this country.

But what you don't see on a resume is what it took to get there.

I've slept in my truck just so I could make it to work. I've had to figure out how to stretch $20 across an entire week. I've worked long hours, missed time with my family, and traveled hundreds of miles from home because that's where the money was.

And that's something that's always bothered me.

Why should somebody born and raised in Mississippi have to leave Mississippi just to make a decent living?

Why should a father have to miss watching his kids grow up just to put food on the table? Why should a mother or father have to choose between being home with their family and making enough money to support them?

I've lived that life. I know what it's like to work your tail off and still worry about the next bill coming due.

And I know there's thousands of Mississippi families living that same struggle right now.

That's a big part of why I'm running for governor.

I want to see a Mississippi where our people don't have to pack their bags and head across the country to find a good-paying job. Where a young man or woman can learn a trade, build a career, buy a home, and raise a family right here where they grew up.

I want our kids to have opportunities that don't require them to leave everything they've ever known behind.

And I want a state government that remembers whose money it's spending. Because every dollar the government collects came from somebody who had to get up and earn it.

I'm not running because I want a fancy title, a big office, or a name on a building.

I'm running because I'm tired of seeing hardworking people struggle in a state that has so much potential.

I've spent my life working to build a better future for my family. Now I want to fight to build a better future for Mississippi families.

Because nobody should have to leave home just to make a living.

And nobody working hard every day should feel like they're getting left behind.

See where I stand →
Andrew grinding a steel pipe at workAndrew with his wife
THE REASON I KEEP GOING

It's the everyday moments with the people I love that remind me why Mississippi families deserve the chance to build a good life right here at home.

Andrew Danford with his family dressed up together
Andrew and Haliegh together in their truck
Andrew and Haliegh together outdoors
Family celebrating together outside
Two young family members sitting together
MY VISION FOR MISSISSIPPI

My plan to put Mississippi families first.

Mississippi families work too hard to keep getting the short end of the stick. I want to keep more money in your pocket, put our tax dollars where they belong, and fight for better schools, healthcare and jobs. Changing things won't be easy, but I'm willing to fight for it every step of the way.

PRIORITY 01

Show us where the money goes

If the state spends your tax dollars, you ought to be able to see where they went and what Mississippi got back.

  • Push for easy-to-search public reporting of state contracts, agency spending and economic-development incentives.
  • Require clear job, wage and local-investment targets in incentive agreements, with enforceable clawbacks when companies do not deliver.
  • Audit wasteful programs and redirect savings toward essential services where legally and financially possible.
PRIORITY 02

Lower taxes. Better use of our money.

Mississippians work too hard for their money to keep watching more and more of it disappear in taxes. I want to put more of that money back in your pocket and make sure the state uses what it already collects the right way.

  • Remove the state sales tax on groceries. Feeding your family is a necessity, not a luxury. Restaurant meals would remain taxable.
  • Take a hard look at land and property taxes and find ways to drastically reduce or eliminate them. People shouldn't have to worry about losing land they've worked their whole lives to own.
  • Track down wasteful government spending, find out where our tax dollars are going, and fix what's wrong.
  • Follow the money promised to schools, roads and other public needs. Show the public what was collected, where it went and what it actually paid for.
  • Bring more revenue into Mississippi without putting another burden on working families. Grow better-paying jobs, support local businesses and make sure taxpayer-funded deals deliver real results.
PRIORITY 03

Better jobs, better training, stronger communities.

I want Mississippi to be a place where people can learn a trade, make a good living and raise their families without having to leave home just to find decent work.

  • Fight to raise teacher pay to a livable wage and get classrooms the supplies they need.
  • Strengthen rural hospitals and make healthcare more accessible and affordable.
  • Bring better-paying trade, manufacturing and technical jobs to Mississippi.
  • Expand affordable, hands-on trade training in rural and lower-income communities, including welding, pipefitting, electrical work, mechanics and heavy equipment operation.
  • Push for stronger partnerships and more community funding from employers, unions, community colleges, local businesses and state programs to grow paid apprenticeships and training opportunities.
  • Make companies that receive taxpayer-funded incentives deliver on Mississippi jobs, wages and local business commitments.
MORE ISSUES THAT MATTER

More of what I stand for

These priorities matter too. Tap an issue to read more.

Education that works for our kids

I want teachers paid enough to stay, parents able to understand what their children are learning, and a serious review of one-size-fits-all standards, including Common Core-aligned approaches.

Rural hospitals and healthcare

Keep care close to home. Work with rural hospitals, clinicians and communities on sustainable funding, workforce recruitment and affordable access.

Safe schools and accountable policing

Explore extensively trained school security personnel and stronger emergency planning. Support better law-enforcement pay and retention alongside firm accountability for harassment, discrimination and abuse.

Property rights and fair taxes

I want to take a hard look at land and property taxes and fight to drastically reduce or eliminate them. Families should be able to keep the land they've worked hard to own.

Jobs, local hiring and corporate accountability

Companies seeking taxpayer incentives should make measurable commitments to Mississippi jobs, wages and local vendors — and face clawbacks if they fail to deliver.

Responsible development and infrastructure

Listen to nearby residents before major industrial or data-center projects move forward. Evaluate roads, water, electricity, housing and local services.

Cannabis policy and tax revenue

I support legal, regulated adult-use cannabis sold through licensed businesses, with strong oversight and a fair opportunity for Mississippi-owned operators. The new tax revenue should be legally set aside for specific purposes, including teacher pay, classroom needs and rural healthcare — not dumped into the general fund to be spent on whatever politicians choose. I want every dollar tracked and reported to the public.

MY COMMITMENT

Your government ought to answer to you.

I'm going to tell you what I believe, put the proposals in front of you, and make sure folks can see the numbers and the decisions behind them. Mississippi belongs to its people — not political insiders.

You might not agree with me on every issue. That's fine. You still deserve to be heard and treated with respect.

PEOPLE OVER THE PARTIES!
Andrew welding on a steel fabrication project
WORKING ROOTS

The people doing the work deserve a voice.

From the field to the management office, I have seen what happens when the people making decisions lose touch with the people affected by them. Mississippi deserves leadership that listens before it decides.

BALLOT ACCESS

Help put an independent voice on the ballot.

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