Minority Whip Leader David Baria, D-Bay St. Louis, (left) and House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, (right) have very different campaign-finance records from 2015. Photo by Imani Khayyam.
JACKSON — The Republican supermajority in the House has changed its dynamics this term, and the Democrats chose Rep. David Baria, D-Bay St. Louis, to be their minority whip leader. House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, has been a representative since 2004 and was elected speaker in 2012. Baria has been at the Legislature since 2008, where he served his first term as a senator and then successfully ran for a House of Representatives seat.
A look at both candidates 2015 campaign-finance reports—specifically their campaign contributions—show how state PAC dollars follow power, while individual contributions sustain minority candidates. Half of Gunn's 2015 campaign fund contributions came from Mississippi PACs. Well over half of Baria's contributions came from Mississippi individuals.
Below are some of the highlights of the 2015 Election Cycle Campaign Finance reports of two leaders who are on opposite sides of controversial bills like HB 1523.
Click the graphic below to see the sources of House Speaker Philip Gunn and Rep. Baria's campaign finance accounts:
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