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Fordice settled in Vicksburg in Warren County along the [[Mississippi River]], a city known for the Union Army's siege of the [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] stronghold in the [[American Civil War]]. Fordice began a career in heavy construction and took over the company of his father, and became wealthy. He won the governorship of Mississippi in the 1991 election, first taking the Republican [[primary]] against state auditor Pete Johnson and the [[general election]] against [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] incumbent Raymond Edwin "Ray" Mabus, Jr. (born 1948), <ref>THE 1991 ELECTION: Mississippi; Fordice Seized Anti-Incumbent Anger - The New York Times (nytimes.com), accessed October 25, 2021.</ref> who four years earlier had defeated the highly-regarded Republican businessman [[Jack Reed|Jack Raymond Reed. Sr.]] (not to be confused with the Jack Reed who is the very [[liberal]] Democratic [[United States Senator]] from [[Rhode Island]]). Reed, a Tupelo businessman, lost to Mabus, 53 to 47 percent, until that time the best Republican gubernatorial showing in Mississippi during the 20th century. Fordice was re-elected in 1995 against the then Democratic Mississippi Secretary of State Richard "Dick" Molpus (born 1949), and Fordice's second inauguration was held on January 16, 1996.

Fordice settled in Vicksburg in Warren County along the [[Mississippi River]], a city known for the Union Army's siege of the [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] stronghold in the [[American Civil War]]. Fordice began a career in heavy construction and took over the company of his father, and became wealthy. He won the governorship of Mississippi in the 1991 election, first taking the Republican [[primary]] against state auditor Pete Johnson and the [[general election]] against [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] incumbent Raymond Edwin "Ray" Mabus, Jr. (born 1948), <ref>THE 1991 ELECTION: Mississippi; Fordice Seized Anti-Incumbent Anger - The New York Times (nytimes.com), accessed October 25, 2021.</ref> who four years earlier had defeated the highly-regarded Republican businessman [[Jack Reed|Jack Raymond Reed. Sr.]] (not to be confused with the Jack Reed who is the very [[liberal]] Democratic [[United States Senator]] from [[Rhode Island]]). Reed, a Tupelo businessman, lost to Mabus, 53 to 47 percent, until that time the best Republican gubernatorial showing in Mississippi during the 20th century. Fordice was re-elected in 1995 against the then Democratic Mississippi Secretary of State Richard "Dick" Molpus (born 1949), and Fordice's second inauguration was held on January 16, 1996.

Governor Fordice advocated tax cuts and succeeded in eliminating the capital-gains taxes for Mississippi-based companies. The state enjoyed unprecedented prosperity during his two terms in office.<ref name=bio/>He urged the abolition of  [[affirmative action]], a policy announced in 1965 by then U.S. President [[Lyndon B. Johnson. He supported reductions in the public welfare system, expanded capital punishment, and the building of more prisons. Fordice also alarmed Jewish groups when he referred to the United States as "a Christian nation" during a Republican governor's conference.  [[South Carolina]] Governor [[Carroll Campbell]] quickly offered a correction, adding [[Judeo-Christian|"Judeo-"]] as a prefix to Christian, but Fordice reiterated his claim. Then he apologized for any offense that his words may have triggered.<ref>America's Heritage: Are we a Christian Nation? — The Forerunner, accessed October 25, 2021.</ref>

Governor Fordice advocated tax cuts and succeeded in eliminating the capital-gains taxes for Mississippi-based companies. The state enjoyed unprecedented prosperity during his two terms in office.<ref name=bio/>He urged the abolition of  [[affirmative action]], a policy announced in 1965 by then U.S. President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]. He supported reductions in the public welfare system, expanded capital punishment, and the building of more prisons. Fordice also alarmed Jewish groups when he referred to the United States as "a Christian nation" during a Republican governor's conference.  [[South Carolina]] Governor [[Carroll Campbell]] quickly offered a correction, adding [[Judeo-Christian|"Judeo-"]] as a prefix to Christian, but Fordice reiterated his claim. Then he apologized for any offense that his words may have triggered.<ref>America's Heritage: Are we a Christian Nation? — The Forerunner, accessed October 25, 2021.</ref>

Fordice also refused to discuss any increase in public school salaries even though Mississippi ranked 49th in the nation in regard to educator pay.  When teachers discussed going on strike, Fordice ordered that any teacher who did so would be quickly fired.<ref>"Rant, Listen, Exploit, Learn, Scare, Help, Manipulate, Lead," ''[[The New York Times]],'' January 28, 1996, accessed October 25, 2021.</ref>

Fordice also refused to discuss any increase in public school salaries even though Mississippi ranked 49th in the nation in regard to educator pay.  When teachers discussed going on strike, Fordice ordered that any teacher who did so would be quickly fired.<ref>"Rant, Listen, Exploit, Learn, Scare, Help, Manipulate, Lead," ''[[The New York Times]],'' January 28, 1996, accessed October 25, 2021.</ref>