Wayne Dowdy
Encyclopedia
Charles Wayne Dowdy is a former United States Congress
man from Mississippi
, United States Senate
candidate and currently chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party
.
, Ben Hill County
, Georgia
.
Dowdy practiced law and owned two local radio stations before being elected Mayor
of McComb
from 1978-1981.
as a Democrat
in a special election
for the 4th District, a mildly significant event because the Democrats recaptured a Southern district from the Republicans
. Dowdy carefully managed to avoid drawing strong Republican challengers in the general election
or African American
opponents in the Democratic primary
. He won re-election narrowly in 1982 and 1984, with 53 percent and 55 percent of the vote, before being re-elected with 72 percent of the vote in the 1986 elections. He was notable for being a rather progressive
Democrat in a district with a 37 percent African American population; he voted for renewal of the Voting Rights Act
in 1982.
In 1988, when John Stennis
retired from the Senate, Dowdy won the Democratic nomination. His opponent was Republican Congressman Trent Lott
. Dowdy was unable to implement his rural strategy. George H. W. Bush
carried Mississippi 59 percent-39 percent, which allowed Lott to defeat Dowdy by a 54 percent-45 percent margin.
Dowdy attempted to stage a comeback against Governor Ray Mabus
in the 1991 Democratic primaries, but lost with 41 percent of the vote.
Dowdy's trademark slogan as the chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party has been "It's a great time to be a Democrat."
.
He currently practices law in Magnolia, Mississippi
. His family owns several radio stations in Mississippi and Louisiana
. He is a former staff announcer for television station WJTV-TV in Jackson, Mississippi.
He is a graduate of Millsaps College
in Jackson, Mississippi. He is United Methodist in faith.
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
man from Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
candidate and currently chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party
Democratic Party of the State of Mississippi
The Democratic Party of the State of Mississippi is the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of Mississippi. Its headquarters is located in Jackson which is also the state capitol....
.
Early life
Dowdy was born in FitzgeraldFitzgerald, Georgia
Fitzgerald is a city in Ben Hill in the U.S. state of Georgia, and is the county seat of Ben Hill County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 9,053...
, Ben Hill County
Ben Hill County, Georgia
Ben Hill County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The constitutional amendment to create the county was proposed July 31, 1906 and ratified November 6, 1906. As of 2000, the population was 17,484. The 2007 Census Estimate placed the population at 17,650...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
Dowdy practiced law and owned two local radio stations before being elected Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of McComb
McComb, Mississippi
McComb is a city in Pike County, Mississippi, United States, about south of Jackson. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 13,644. It is the principal city of the McComb, Mississippi, Micropolitan Statistical Area...
from 1978-1981.
Political career
On July 7, 1981, Dowdy was elected to the House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
in a special election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
for the 4th District, a mildly significant event because the Democrats recaptured a Southern district from the Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. Dowdy carefully managed to avoid drawing strong Republican challengers in the general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
or African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
opponents in the Democratic primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
. He won re-election narrowly in 1982 and 1984, with 53 percent and 55 percent of the vote, before being re-elected with 72 percent of the vote in the 1986 elections. He was notable for being a rather progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
Democrat in a district with a 37 percent African American population; he voted for renewal of the Voting Rights Act
Voting Rights Act
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a landmark piece of national legislation in the United States that outlawed discriminatory voting practices that had been responsible for the widespread disenfranchisement of African Americans in the U.S....
in 1982.
In 1988, when John Stennis
John C. Stennis
John Cornelius Stennis was a U.S. Senator from the state of Mississippi. He was a Democrat who served in the Senate for over 41 years, becoming its most senior member by his retirement.- Early life :...
retired from the Senate, Dowdy won the Democratic nomination. His opponent was Republican Congressman Trent Lott
Trent Lott
Chester Trent Lott, Sr. , is a former United States Senator from Mississippi and has served in numerous leadership positions in the House of Representatives and the Senate....
. Dowdy was unable to implement his rural strategy. George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
carried Mississippi 59 percent-39 percent, which allowed Lott to defeat Dowdy by a 54 percent-45 percent margin.
Dowdy attempted to stage a comeback against Governor Ray Mabus
Ray Mabus
Raymond Edwin "Ray" Mabus, Jr. is the 75th United States Secretary of the Navy. Mabus served as the 60th Governor of the U.S...
in the 1991 Democratic primaries, but lost with 41 percent of the vote.
Dowdy's trademark slogan as the chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party has been "It's a great time to be a Democrat."
Personal life
Dowdy and his wife, Susan, have three children. His wife is from Grenada, MississippiGrenada, Mississippi
Grenada is a city in Grenada County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 14,879 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Grenada County.-History:...
.
He currently practices law in Magnolia, Mississippi
Magnolia, Mississippi
Magnolia is a city in Pike County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 2071 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pike County, which lies within the McComb, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. His family owns several radio stations in Mississippi and Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. He is a former staff announcer for television station WJTV-TV in Jackson, Mississippi.
He is a graduate of Millsaps College
Millsaps College
Millsaps College is a private liberal arts college located in Jackson, Mississippi. Founded in 1890, the college is recognized as one of the country's best private colleges dedicated to undergraduate teaching and educating the whole individual. Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, Millsaps...
in Jackson, Mississippi. He is United Methodist in faith.