Republican Governor of Mississippi Tate Reeves secured a second gubernatorial term in the Magnolia State, winning a clear majority of the vote against Democratic challenger Brandon Presley and therefore avoiding a run-off election. The sitting governor took 52 percent of the vote (404,926 votes) compared to Presley’s 47 percent (362,601).
“Mississippi has momentum, and this is Mississippi’s time,” Governor Reeves announced after the results to cheering supports in the state capital of Jackson on Tuesday night.
“This victory … it’s really about the direction that our state will go over the next four years,” he added.
Republicans have held the Mississippi governorship for the last two decades. The last Democrat to win in the state was Jimmy Carter in the 1976 presidential election. The race was unusually close between Reeves and Presley, though the state’s electorate preferred Reeves’ focus on job creation, low unemployment, and improvements to education.
Reeves was also endorsed by former President Donald Trump going into the race, with Don Jr, the son of the 45th President, posting on X (formerly Twitter), “Hey Mississippi don’t let some psychopath democrat take over and destroy your great state. It’s Election Day, get out and vote for Trump-endorsed [Tate Reeves] for Governor! MAGA!
Hey Mississippi don’t let some psychopath democrat take over and destroy your great state. It’s Election Day, get out and vote for Trump-endorsed @tatereeves for Governor! MAGA! pic.twitter.com/p6oFGG2INb
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 7, 2023