Mississippi is tough political territory for Democrats. But the party sees an unusual opportunity this year to unseat the Republican governor, Tate Reeves. Democratic nominee Brandon Presley is a second cousin of Elvis Presley and was born a few days before the rock ’n’ roll legend died. Brandon Presley frequently talks about government corruption, focusing on a welfare scandal that developed while Reeves was lieutenant governor. Presley, who's an elected member of the Mississippi Public Service Commission, is also pushing for Medicaid expansion to help financially strapped hospitals and is telling voters about his hardscrabble childhood. Reeves is portraying Presley as part of a national Democratic operation far removed from the realities of life in Mississippi.

Mississippi might have an opportunity to have a Democrat as governor.

  • sintamo@beehaw.orgEnglish
    2·
    1 year ago

    That’s despite voters twice heavily backing Donald Trump for president, the GOP holding all statewide offices and a supermajority in the Legislature and a Democrat not winning a Mississippi governor’s race so far this century.

    I’ve always wanted to understand how incumbent politicians still have an edge in states that rank so poor in quality of life. States like Mississippi or Alabama are the butt of so many jokes that it’s easy to dismiss them and almost feel like they aren’t real, and full of real people who deserve better.

    Reeves, who faces two underfunded opponents in the Aug. 8 primary, has the advantage of incumbency: 31 governors of U.S. states or territories sought reelection last year, and only one lost. Reeves had about $9.4 million in his campaign fund at the end of May, far more than the $1.7 million Presley reported.

    No idea the odds, but it can’t hurt to donate.