Mike McWherter

Mike McWherter
Personal details
Born	1955 (age 61–62)
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Mary Jane
Children	2
Alma mater	Vanderbilt University

Michael Ray "Mike" McWherter (born in 1955) is an American lawyer, businessman and politician from the state of Tennessee. He was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee in the 2010 Tennessee gubernatorial race.

The son of former Tennessee governor Ned McWherter, McWherter is a native of West Tennessee. He graduated from Union City High School. In 1981 McWherter earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University, after which he worked in private practice in Nashville. He later moved to Jackson to start his own business.

McWherter operates the family's beer distribution business in Jackson. He is also the Chairman of the Board of First State Bank, headquartered in Union City, and serves on the board of directors for the Jackson Energy Authority.

Although he has never held elected office, McWherter made an attempt to challenge Republican U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander in the 2008 election. He opted out over fund raising concerns and an intense campaign season.

On April 23, 2009, he announced he would run for Governor of Tennessee in the 2010 election. McWherter said he will run on a platform of jobs, education and fiscal responsibility. Tennessee's current governor, Phil Bredesen, endorsed McWherter's candidacy.

He was reported as supporting a ban on unmarried (including gay) couples adopting children, indicating that he feels "having parents of the opposite sex is better for a child." In the same interview he also agreed that "foster care by an opposite-sex couple was better than adoption by a same-sex couple."

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