Mississippi’s Governor, Tate Reeves, secured a second term, maintaining Republicans’ control of the governorship for over two decades. He defeated Democrat Brandon Presley in a closely contested race, even though Reeves built a massive war chest for his re-election campaign. The attacks from Presley and Democrats on health care and a welfare corruption scandal made the race unusually competitive in deep red Mississippi.
Reeves received a late endorsement from former President Donald Trump and strong support from the Republican Governors Association and the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America’s Candidate Fund. His campaign also spent nearly $10 million on ads to support his re-election, a strategy that proved successful in the GOP-friendly state.
In his campaign ads, Reeves criticized Presley’s stance on medical care for transgender children and his association with President Joe Biden, who lost Mississippi by over 16 percentage points in 2020. Reeves highlighted his management of natural disasters and the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as his responsible handling of taxpayer funds.
Despite a tight race leading up to Election Day, Reeves emerged victorious. His first term was overshadowed by a welfare scandal while he was lieutenant governor, with state funds earmarked for disadvantaged families diverted to other projects.
Presley, who campaigned on Medicaid expansion, was unable to unseat Reeves, as Republicans have historically blocked the expansion in Mississippi despite its popularity among voters and the financial strain on state hospitals.
The article was originally published on NBCNews.com.
