Notes: Gov. Tate Reeves (R), seeking a second term, fended off a strong challenge from Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley (D).  The third candidate on the ballot, Gwendolyn Gray (I), founder and CEO of Southern Foundation FHC, ended her campaign on Oct. 9 and endorsed Presley, but her name remained on the ballot.

Reeves, elected governor in a fairly tight race in 2019, previously served as lieutenant governor (2012-20) and state treasurer (2004-12).  He is running on "Mississippi Momentum," touting his leadership through hurricanes, tornadoes, the pandemic, and the recession, and pointing to accomplishments including the largest tax cut in state history, a teacher pay raise, new workforce training programs, economic development successes, and the lowest unemployment rate in state history (>).  However, the Morning Consult July 2023 survey showed Reeves to be the third most unpopular governor after Tina Kotek (D-OR) and Katie Hobbs (D-AZ), and cited low support among Black voters. 
 
Presley has served as Public Service Commissioner for the Northern District since Jan. 2008 and previously was Mayor of Nettleton from 2001-07.  He is a second cousin of Elvis Presley.  He announced his candidacy on Jan. 12, 2023 via a 3-minute video highlighting his humble roots in Nettleton ("a no stop light town") and his record and denouncing Reeves as a politician with "zero conviction and maximum corruption (>)."  Specifically, Presley sought to tie Reeves to a scandal involving misspending and embezzling of welfare funds that occurred during the previous administration.  Presley advocated expanding Medicaid and addressing crisis in rural hospitals, cutting the sales tax on groceries, and implementing an ethics plan.
 
In the Aug. 8 primaries, Reeves easily bested two challengers, while Presley was unopposed.  The general election campaign was already underway, evidenced, for example by the contentious tone of candidates' remarks at the Neshoba County Fair on July 27 (+).

Reeves pointed to a "national liberal machine" running against him and repeatedly accused Presley of lying.  Former President Trump endorsed Reeves on Nov. 1 via a one minute video.

The Reeves campaign started in a very strong financial position, entering 2023 with $5.9 million in cash on hand compared to a bit more than $727,000 for the Presley campaign.  Spending leveled out as the year progressed.  The Reeves campaign's Oct. 31 pre-election filing showed total disbursements of $11.0 million and $1.2 million in cash on hand compared to disbursements of $10.8 million and cash on hand of $1.3 million for the Presley campaign.  There was outside spending as well; for example on Aug. 1 the Democratic Governors Association announced a donation of $750,000 to the Presley campaign. 
 
Reeves and Presley engaged in just one very contentious debate, hosted by WAPT in Jackson on Nov. 1 (>).

Mississippi's last Democratic governor, Ronnie Musgrove, was elected in 1999, but defeated in his re-election bid.
 

Campaign Managers:
Tate Reeves:  Elliott Husbands
(Feb. 2023)  Campaign manager on Mariannette Miller-Meeks for Congress (IA), Sept. 2021-Jan. 2023.  Deputy political director, state party strategies (Mar.-Sept. 2021), deputy director for paid voter contact (July 2020-Mar. 2021) and state party development coordinator (Mar. 2019-July 2020) at the RNC.  Regional field director on Bill Schuette for Governor (MI), Mar.-Dec. 2018.  Staff (Apr.-Aug. 2017) and intern (Jan.-Apr. 2017) in the U.S. House.  B.A. in political science from Hope College, 2017.

Brandon Presley:  Ron Owens
(Jan. 2023)  Political director on Gretchen Whitmer for Governor, Feb. 2021-Jan. 2023; public affairs specialist for Gov. Whitmer, Jan. 2019-Jan. 2021; deputy political director on Gretchen Whitmer for Governor, Aug. 2017-Dec. 2018.  Legislative aide to House Democratic Leader Sam Singh, Jan.-Aug. 2017.  Field organizer in Lansing on Hillary for America, Aug.-Nov. 2016.  Bachelor's degree in political theory and constitutional democracy and public relations from Michigan State University.



See also:
tatereeves.com  |  www.brandonpresley.com  |  msgwengray.com

Secretary of State: Campaign Finance

Julia James, Geoff Pender, Bobby Harison, Taylor Vance and Adam Ganucheau.  "Gov. Tate Reeves' top political donors received $1.4 billion in state contracts from his agencies."  Mississippi Today, Oct. 31, 2023.

Adam Ganucheau.  "Bill Waller's 2019 campaign is still haunting Gov. Tate Reeves."  Mississippi Today, Oct. 26, 2023.

Emily Wagster Pettus.  "Democrat Brandon Presley seeks big turnout in Nov. 7 bid to unseat Mississippi's Republican governor."  Associated Press, Oct. 17, 2023.
 
Emily Wagster Pettus.  "Wasted welfare money sparks candidates' feud in election for Mississippi governor."  Associated Press, Aug. 2023.

Sarah Ulmer.  "Race for governor intensifies as Reeves, Presley take the stage at Neshoba."   Magnolia Tribune, July 28, 2023.

Taylor Vance.  "Rowdy Neshoba County Fair attendees show that bitter race for governor is officially in full swing."  Mississippi Today, July 27, 2023.
 
Eli Yokley. "U.S. Governor Rankings: Beshear Gets a Boost, Desantis' Approval Dips."  Morning Consult, July 2023.

Adam Ganucheau.  "Mississippi Democrats vote to remove leader, appoint new one in wild emergency meeting."  Mississippi Today, July 6, 2023.

Frank Corder and Russ Latino.  "Brandon Presley builds solid blue campaign team in deep red Mississippi."  Magnolia Tribune, Apr. 16, 2023.

Nick Reynolds.  "A Republican Nightmare Is Unfolding in Mississippi."  Newsweek, Jan. 19, 2023.

Anna Wolfe.  "Former welfare agency head, others arrested for embezzling millions intended for poor Mississippians."  Mississippi Today, Feb. 5, 2020.