What's Going On in the Statehouse

In this episode of What’s Going On in the Statehouse, Keiffer Mitchell sits down with Haley Barbour, former Mississippi governor, RNC chairman, Reagan White House advisor, and co-founder of BGR Group. Barbour traces his rise from working on the Nixon campaign to leading efforts for Ford in the South, serving in the Reagan White House, chairing the RNC, and ultimately winning two terms as governor of Mississippi, where he led the state through Hurricane Katrina, the worst natural disaster in American history. He also reflects on his career as one of Washington’s most effective lobbyists, from his early days to building BGR into a leading public affairs firm.

The Texas legislature only meets 140 days every two years, so what happens during the interim? In this episode of What’s Going On in the Statehouse, Keiffer Mitchell talks with BGR’s Jerry Strickland and Caitriana Corkill about the Texas legislative interim and how it quietly shapes the next session. They also break down the latest Texas primary elections and what the results signal for the state’s political future. Plus: property taxes, grid reliability, school choice, and the policy battles already taking shape for 2027.

In this special Black History Month episode of What’s Going On in the Statehouse, Keiffer Mitchell sits down with Mayor Steven Benjamin and Labriah Holt for a conversation on leadership, service, and the enduring impact of Black Americans on our nation’s story.

In this episode of What’s Going On in the State House, Keiffer Mitchell sits down with Erine Gray, Founder and CEO of Findhelp, for a conversation about modernizing the American safety net.Gray shares his personal journey—from growing up in a small town in Western New York and navigating public assistance firsthand, to serving as his mother’s legal guardian, to building the leading social care platform in the United States.

Mason Di Palma, Communications Director of the Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) joins Keiffer Mitchell (BGR Group) to discuss how Republicans are approaching the 2026 state legislative elections, key battleground states, and the policy arguments GOP candidates plan to emphasize. 

Heather Williams, President of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), joins Keiffer Mitchell (BGR Group) to break down where Democrats see their best opportunities in the 2026 state legislative elections and why statehouses will play a decisive role in shaping policy, redistricting, and political power. 

In the premiere episode of What’s Going On in the Statehouse, Keiffer Mitchell sits down with Julie George from the National Conference of State Legislatures to unpack what really happens behind the scenes when state lawmakers write, negotiate, and pass legislation.