From dKosopedia

The Contenders

Ronnie Musgrove, Democratic Incumbent

Haley Barbour, Republican

The Significance

Musgrove was one of the last remaining Democratic governors of a Deep South state. He had a solid record on education and job creation, blemished, in the eyes of the voters, by his insistence on removing the confederate Stars-and-Bars Symbol from the state flag. He lost some popularity when a proposition to create a new flag was put on the ballot, leaving himself open to a challenge by Republican lobbyist Haley Barbour. Despite a high black turnout, Musgrove lost the election, demonstrating a successful example of Republicans persuading voters to prioritize values over record.