OUR TEAM

Lesley Davis | Vice-Chair

New MSGOP Vice-Chair Lesley Andress Davis is the founder and president of MississippiAdvocacy Group, LLC, a conservative public policy and governmental affairs firm thatchampions the renewal and strengthening of our cultural institutions. She has a 25-year recordof 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 ofthe Mississippi Center for Public Policy.

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

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

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

A life-long Republican, Lesley has served the Party behind the scenes for most of her life fromleading 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.

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.