The heated race for the state’s highest office between Republican Gov. Tate Reeves and Democrat challenger Brandon Presley ultimately went to the incumbent who garnered 408,364 votes across the state (51.6%), according to The New York Times.
Presley, who hoped to become the first Democrat elected governor in the state in over 20 years, garnered 372,022 votes across the state (47.9%). Gwendolyn Gray, running as an independent, dropped out of the race — but not early enough for her name to be dropped from the ballot. She garnered 10,780 votes (1.4%).
“This victory sure is sweet,” Reeves said. “You know, we all now know what it means in a state like Mississippi when you stand up to the national liberals and you stand up to Joe Biden. They threw everything they had at Mississippi — $13 million they threw at Mississippi. But you know what? Mississippi did not bend, Mississippi did not break, Mississippi is not for sale.”
After hearing that he had lost, Presley gave a concession speech and ultimately believes that his campaign was still successful in spotlighting several issues in the state.
“I respect the decision of the voters of Mississippi,” Presley said. “This campaign was never just about me. It has been about Mississippi as a whole, and we still have issues that confront our state. …Tonight is a setback, but we’re not going to lose hope because this campaign elevated issues that had to be talked about in Mississippi.”
Several students expressed strong opinions on the results of the gubernatorial election.
“It is a very important step in continuing to advance the education system in Mississippi that has been thriving since Reeves was elected,” Shayla Hanson, a sophomore biology major, said after hearing the results of the race. “Republicans should continue to run in Mississippi, and it is very obvious when looking at the amount of growth the state of Mississippi has seen in the past decade.”
Some students also voiced frustration over the election as a whole.
“I feel like it is ridiculous that even with his scandal of mishandling $77 million intended for welfare money so many people voted for him to get a second term,” Erinn Williams, a senior communications sciences and disorders major, said. “Mississippi is one of the poorest states and we continue to keep people in office that do not want to better our stances. I know no matter who we elect, there will not be a quick fix, but we need a governor who wants to improve and bring change in Mississippi.”
All Republican candidates for statewide offices enjoyed wins in this year’s general election, though the race between Reeves and Presley was the closest. All other statewide Republican candidates — like Attorney General Lynn Fitch and State Auditor Shad White — were incumbents and enjoyed wins by much larger margins.
Though many counties enjoyed smooth election proceedings, Hinds County — the state’s largest county — was thrown into chaos after multiple precincts ran out of ballots multiple times. As a result, a judge approved an emergency petition to keep some of the polls open until 8 p.m., an extra hour. Presley conceded the race just before 11 p.m. on Tuesday and the Associated Press called the race shortly thereafter.
Calvin Wood, a sophomore public policy leadership major, campaigned for Presley in the months leading up the election. Although Wood is disappointed, he believes his work is still valuable.
“He ran an incredibly sophisticated campaign that brought national attention and national funding to an often overlooked state, and he reached out to every corner of the state,” Wood said. “Although these were not the results I wanted, I know that his efforts to energize and empower the working class of Mississippi will pay off in the long run.”
In Lafayette County, 51.59% of voters cast a ballot in favor of Reeves. A number of local and regional candidates on both sides of the aisle enjoyed wins. Wood shared enthusiasm for these Democrat candidates that won local elections.
“I am incredibly pleased to see a victory for Dale Timothy Gordon, the Democrat running for county supervisor,” Wood said. “The College Democrats are leading a push to remove the Confederate monument from the Square, and his support will be paramount to that effort.”
