The Mississippi Democratic Party chair announced he will resign. What happens next?

Lici Beveridge, Mississippi Clarion Ledger
·2 min read
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What happens next for the Mississippi Democratic Party would be pure speculation now that party chair Tyree Irving announced his resignation, effective July 22, one party official said.

"Even though his resignation has been tendered, we still haven't officially done anything," Congressional District 1 Chair Andre DeBerry said in a phone interview Monday.

Mississippi Today broke the news of Irving's resignation on Sunday, less than a week after the party chair came under fire by Secretary of State Candidate Shuwaski Young for writing emails to some National Democratic Committee staffers criticizing Mississippi Democratic Party Executive Director Andre Wagner.

Neither Irving nor Wagner responded to requests for comment.

Tyree Irving
Tyree Irving

Regardless of whether the party decides to accept Irving's resignation, state Democrats will move forward, DeBerry said.

"The party is more than one or two or three or four people," DeBerry said. "It's an organizational piece, so I would think that, if they would, in fact, change the (party) head, I don't think it would really impact the party itself because of the organizational structure that's out there. That's not predicated on who's at the top."

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Mississippi Democratic Party leaders still plan to meet Thursday to discuss Irving's letter of resignation, DeBerry said.

The meeting initially was scheduled after a petition was circulated among party leaders over the weekend asking for an emergency meeting to seek Irving's removal, according to Mississippi Today.

It is not the first time Young has called for Irving's removal from party leadership.

After losing to Republican Rep. Michael Guest in November, Young said he would not run for office again if Irving remained chair. Young later changed his mind and announced his candidacy for Secretary of State.

An attempt to reach Young for comment Monday was unsuccessful, but according to a statement he released last week, Young said he was shocked by Irving's emails, adding Irving has "undermined democracy and railroaded critical … relationships that would benefit Mississippi."

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This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Tyree Irving Mississippi Democratic Party chair resigns after tirade