Charles Wayne Dowdy (born July 27, 1943) is an American politician, lawyer and jurist from Mississippi.

Dowdy carefully managed to avoid drawing strong Republican challengers in the general election or African-American opponents in the Democratic primary.

Despite several Bush voters splitting their tickets to vote for Dowdy, it was not enough to overcome the Republican tide.

Dowdy attempted to stage a comeback against Governor Ray Mabus in the 1991 Democratic gubernatorial primary, but lost with 41 percent of the vote.

[2] Mabus would go on to lose the general election in a close race against Republican businessman Kirk Fordice.

He practiced civil and trial law and represented Pike County and its Board of Supervisors, the City of Magnolia, and the Town of Summit.