Reeves and Presley will face off in November. Here’s the outlook, according to politicos

by

Will Stribling

• Published on August 10, 2023 • Comments

With wife Elee Reeves at his side, second from left, Republican Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves speaks to supporters in Jackson, Miss., after winning the party primary Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023. Accompanying Reeves on stage are his daughters, Madeline, left, Sarah, right, and Elizabeth, second from right. Reeves defeated two challengers in his party reelection bid.
(AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Tuesday's primary elections set up the governor's race Mississippians — and the candidates themselves — have been waiting for all year. Incumbent Republican Governor Tate Reeves is set to face off against Democrat Brandon Presley, North Mississippi's utility regulator.

Will Stribling

Reeves and Presley will face off in November. Here’s the outlook, according to politicos

Mississippi is one of just three states holding gubernatorial elections this year, and the strength of both candidates has it set to be an intense race. Now, Mississippi politicos are weighing in on the strengths of their parties' nominee for governor.

Austin Barbour, a Republican strategist, says as the incumbent, Reeves is the clear favorite.

“He has the money advantage,” Barbour said. “He's got the name ID advantage. He's got the likability advantage. But most importantly, he's got the credibility on his record of what he's done on education… the best test scores we've seen in generations in Mississippi… job creation, our unemployment numbers are at record lows, new jobs being created.”

Barbour also thinks that how Reeves handled the COVID-19 pandemic in Mississippi, allowing small businesses to reopen faster than in many other states, will be a major plus for him.

On the other side of the aisle is Brandon Jones, a Democrat and former member of the Mississippi House of Representatives. Jones says that Presley is more likable than Reeves, and is better positioned on the issues that will matter most to voters in November.

“You're talking about one of the best retail politicians that the state has seen in my lifetime,” Jones said. “He's someone who has never met a stranger… He talks about those kitchen table issues, like health care. He led his campaign with that and he's been consistent with that. And I think it's the most pressing issue facing Mississippians today.”

Jones also argues that 25% of Republican primary voters not voting for Reeves, even though his two opponents ran bare-bones campaigns, does not bode well for the incumbent.

Reeves and Presley will go head to head in the general election on November 7.