Eleanor Brosnan
Eleanor Brosnan
Eleanor Brosnan (born September 2, 1970) is an American politician serving as the 65th and current governor of Mississippi since 2020. A member of the Democratic Party, she served as an Associate Justice of the state from 2011-18 and as an F.B.I Attorney from 2008-11.
A Democrat, she defeated Representative Renfus Chip for Governor of Mississippi in the 2019 election.
Background
A native of Jackson, Hinds County Mississippi, Brosnan graduated from the University of Mississippi Law Centre with a PhD in law in 2003. She was a volunteer for the organization 'Temporary Assistance for Needy Families' from 1988 to 2003 and a Pro-Life activist in Jackson, Mississippi. From 2004 to 2008 Brosnan a member of the Children's Advocacy Centres of Mississippi. She changed her name from MacQuarie to Brosnan in 2004 after marrying Edward Brosnan.
Legal Career
From 2003 to 2008, Brosnan was an independent attorney. In 2004 Brosnan was involved in a publicised Court Case, her client claiming to have been assaulted by as a minor by an extended family member. Local news had covered the case, leading to Brosnan conducting interviews and press briefings. The case resulted in the defendant agreeing to a light plea bargain.
In 2008 Brosnan became the attorney for the FBI branch in Jackson, giving counsel on issues involving litigation and other legal matters. Specifics remain classified.
After a vacancy in 2011, the incumbent Governor appointed Brosnan as Associate Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court which was approved on bi-partisan lines. She retained her position in a 2012 special election, that had been scheduled by law. A portion of her monthly salary was given to the charity organization 'Mississippi Families For Kids'. In her time in office she supported the 'Mississippi Freedom Trail' in 2011 and showed some opposition to the death penalty. In 2018 she resigned.
Political Career
Brosnan ran for governor in the 2019 election. She supported the Medicaid expansion and the state electoral college abolishment.
Despite the Mississippi House controversy where members of the legislature wanted to invoke the state electoral college to grant Representative Chip Renfus the Governorship without a popular vote majority, Eleanor Brosnan was sworn in as Governor in Janrury 14, 2020.
Governor
Election History
Mississippi Supreme Court Special Election, 2012 | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||||||
Democrat | Eleanor Brosnan | 173,578 | 50.6% | |||||||
Republican | NPC-Republican | 169,462 | 49.4% | - | Total Votes | 343,040 |
Democratic Primary, 2019 | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||||||
Democrat | Eleanor Brosnan | 178,410 | 59% | |||||||
Democrat | NPC-Democrat | 69,549 | 23% | |||||||
Democrat | NPC-Democrat | 30,239 | 10% | |||||||
Democrat | NPC-Democrat | 24,191 | 8% | - | Total Votes | 302,390 |