Anselm J. McLaurin began his career as a district attorney at a young age, quickly establishing himself as a prominent lawyer in the state. He played a significant role in the drafting of the Mississippi Constitution of 1890, which included provisions that disenfranchised most black residents. McLaurin served as the first governor elected under this new constitution, focusing on state governance and addressing economic issues such as taxation. He later transitioned to federal governance, being elected to the U.S. Senate twice, where he continued to influence policy and address state-level economic concerns.

Anselm J. McLaurin's political identity is marked by a strategic blend of regional economic advocacy and a rigid stance on racial hierarchy. His support for free coinage and critique of inadequate railroad taxation reveal an economically localized approach, while his involvement in the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 highlights a deeply entrenched commitment to white supremacy. McLaurin's response to the white rioting incident in Forest, where he defended the arrest of black individuals to protect them from a white mob, underscores a complex interplay between governance and racial control.