Andy Gipson
Republican | Mississippi
Candidate Profile
Verified Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Andy Gipson
Party
Republican
Election Year
2023
Election
General
Race
Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
Mississippi College School of Law, Jackson, MS, J.D., 2002
Mississippi College, Clinton, MS, B.A., 1999
Brandon High School, Brandon, MS, High School, 1995
WORK & MILITARY
American Breeders Service, Completed Certification for A.I. - Cattle, 1995
AFFILIATIONS
Ambassadors for Christ (missions), President, Missionary 2018- present, Gum Springs Baptist Church
Pastor, 2011-2018, Gideons International, 1999-2010
Mississippi House Republican Caucus, Treasurer, 2012-2016, Mississippi Legislative Conservative Coalition
Board Member; Treasurer 2010- 2016, Mississippi Farm Bureau, Member
Mississippi Baptist Christian Action Commission, Board Member, 2012-2016, Mississippi Cattlemens Association
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
MS House of Representatives, 2008-2018
MS Agriculture and Commerce Commissioner, 2018-present
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
N/A
Race
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2016-2019
94%
2018
56%, 75% (cum.)†
2018
|56%, 75% (cum.)†
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (1)
National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
National Rifle Association
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (2)
Gary Chism (2021)
Republican State Leadership Committee (2021)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Generally never. Only in certain limited circumstances involving the life of the mother.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants and Medicaid funding).
Strongly Agree
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Reduce taxes, simplify the burdensome process.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Welfare and Medicaid spending.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Under what circumstances should government close churches?
Never.
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare? A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare options (includes "universal healthcare," "Medicare for all," etc.); B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options; C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but the government should reform healthcare to maximize private health insurance options; D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
C
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Never
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Educate the public on this threat and actively eliminate known threats through covert and special operations.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Individuals who apply for admission via the normal legal procedures.
EDUCATION
The state should prioritize education funding by allowing dollars to follow the child instead of focusing on programs and administrators.
Strongly Agree
If you support giving parents more educational options, please list all of the following options that apply and in priority order: A) A universal Education Savings Account (ESA) program; B) An ESA program for low-income children only; C) Expanding tax credits for businesses to give to private schools; D) Expanding public charter schools; E) Allowing homeschoolers to take classes at the local public school.
A, C, D, E
What most closely matches your view on pornography? A) I agree with the American Library Association that any person of any age should have access to any book; B) Library collections, displays and events should be curated using age-appropriate guidelines, similar to what we do for movies (G, PG, R, etc.); C) Mississippi libraries should follow state laws that prevent pornography from being accessible to minors.
B and C
VALUES
What most closely matches your view on marriage? A) Anything goes; B) Marriage between one man and one woman should be promoted and encouraged; C) A divorce should be hard to get; D) Marriage is important, but no-fault divorce should be allowed.
B and C
Judeo-Christian values establish a framework of morality that is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Strongly Agree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. I accept His finished work of salvation on the cross through His death, burial and resurrection. I accept the divine inspiration and truth of the Bible as God’s Word and follow its teachings as mine and my family’s guide in life.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
What most closely matches your view on ballot measures? A) Ballot measures should be able to amend the constitution with few, if any, restrictions; B) Ballot measures should only be able to propose changes to laws when signatures are collected from people all across the state; C) The current process of allowing the Legislature to propose constitutional amendments will result in the best outcomes.
B and C
EQUALITY
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
No, because the term “racism” has been redefined by the radical left through CRT to include any traditional conservative views. I believe that true racism has been gradually reduced and is close to being eliminated in the United States.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.
A
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
The general purpose of government is to provide for the public safety including law enforcement and military defense. It also includes basic public infrastructure necessary for the public.
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
My record of service in the Legislature passing a host of conservative laws including HB 1510 that overturned Roe v Wade, restoring our religious liberty, and restoring constitutional carry of firearms as per the Second Amendment to name a few.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No.
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
I will fight to win for our conservative values.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Strongly Agree
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
The restrictions that already exist are fully sufficient: convicted felons, mentally ill, drug abusers should remain limited.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
