OUR TEAM

“I am incredibly excited about this group of men and women who have answered the call to serve our Party and our state. Every single one of them brings a unique set of skills and experiences to the Republican Party, and most importantly, a shared passion for advancing our conservative principles. Their collective wisdom and dedication to the cause will be pivotal as we work to elect more Republicans and champion the values that we Mississippians hold so dear. I am forever thankful for their service.”

 –

Chairman Mike Hurst

Lesley Davis | Vice-Chair

New MSGOP Vice-Chair Lesley Andress Davis is the founder and president of Mississippi Advocacy Group, LLC, a conservative public policy and governmental affairs firm that champions the renewal and strengthening of our cultural institutions. She has a 25-year record of advancing religious liberty, pro-life, and pro-woman/child/family policies in Maryland, Washington D.C., and Mississippi. Previously, she served as the interim CEO and president of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy.

Lesley’s service and influence in the legislative and policy realm have earned her recognition as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Mississippians. She was named a 2023 Rankin County Republican Woman Leader of the year, the recipient of various awards from the Mississippi Federation of Republican Women, as well as the 2022 sole national Delta Gamma Shield Award for leadership.

Lesley received her Juris Doctorate from The University of Baltimore School of Law and served as a law clerk to the Honorable Arlin M. Adams, United States Office of Independent Counsel in Washington D.C. Following her clerkship, she was hired as an associate prosecuting attorney under Judge Adams and continued her career as a partner in a Baltimore law firm, focusing on toxic tort and medical malpractice defense litigation.

She earned her BA in political science from Mississippi State University, where she was a starting guard for the MSU Women’s Basketball team. Lesley was inducted into MSU’s Hall of Fame, and was elected MSU’s Homecoming Queen. Additionally, she served as Student Association Attorney General, President of College Republicans, and MSU Campaign director for U.S. Senator Trent Lott’s first senatorial campaign.

A lifelong Republican, Lesley has served the Party behind the scenes for most of her life, from leading get-out-the-vote campaigns to major fundraising. She has served on numerous ministry, legal, policy, and university boards. Her research and writing have been published across the state and in the Wall Street Journal.

Originally from Philadelphia and Columbus, Mississippi, Lesley married her college sweetheart, John Davis, and they have three grown sons.

Rance Bilbo | Executive Director

Before joining the MSGOP, new Executive Director Rance Bilbo previously worked in government relations for four years at the Clearwater Group in Jackson, Mississippi. Bilbo has strong ties to Republican legislators, state-wide officials, mayors, alderman, and board of supervisors throughout Mississippi. Bilbo has extensive experience in fundraising, election consulting, grassroots campaigns, and strategic communications. Prior to entering the political world, Bilbo ran his own social media company with a network of over 1.1 million followers. Bilbo graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in Political Science and Pre-Law, where he was named to the President and Deans’ List. Bilbo currently resides in Brandon, Mississippi and serves on the Rankin County Republican Executive Committee and is a member of Crossgates Baptist Church.

Ty Martin | Political Director

Ty Martin has been working at the MSGOP for months but was recently confirmed by the Committee as the MSGOP’s new Political Director. Ty is currently a full-time student at Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi, spending all his free time working for the Party. A Neshoba County native, Ty was active in leadership of the Mississippi Teenage Republicans in high school, culminating in his being selected as a United States Senate page his junior year. Ty’s experience also includes working for the re-election campaigns of Governor Tate Reeves and U.S. Senatore Roger Wicker, as well assisting preparation for Governor Reeves’ inauguration.

Cassie Smith | Operations Director

Operations Director Cassie Smith is an honor graduate from the University of Mississippi. She brings over 20 years of experience, from working with large companies, including Viking Range & Conde Nast, to having owned her own development business & event company. Her expertise spans from creating, managing & fundraising for over 100 events to developing operational systems for businesses to achieve foundational stability. Cassie has served as the Treasurer for First Presbyterian Day School’s Crusader Club Board, Secretary for Jackson Prep Parent and Teacher Association, Health Chair for the Junior League of Jackson, and member of the Jackson Prep Alumni Council. Cassie is a native of Jackson, Mississippi and is married to Carter Smith. They have four children, Havens, Caroline, Tate, and Harrison and live in Jackson. She is a member of First Baptist Church.

THANK YOU TO OUR CENTRAL COMMITTEE