Note: This post was written as part of DDHQ’s effort to expand election coverage through the use of AI combined with our proprietary election data. This process is separate from our results and race calls which are still run exclusively by our class leading human team.
Mississippi held its gubernatorial election on November 7, 2023, with two major candidates competing for office, incumbent Republican Governor Tate Reeves and Democratic contender Brandon Presley, a member of the Mississippi Public Service Commission. Mississippi is traditionally a Republican stronghold, demonstrated by its dominant Republican representation in the State Senate, State House, and congressional delegation. The last successful Democratic contender for the general election was Ronnie Musgrove in 1999.
The political backdrop of the 2023 gubernatorial election was heavily influenced by past voting patterns. The 2020 presidential election results, with Republican nominee Donald Trump winning in Mississippi with a margin of 16.5%, highlighted the state’s strong Republican alignment. Furthermore, incumbent governor Tate Reeves previously won the 2019 gubernatorial election with a lead of 5.1%. Despite having a strong Democratic nominee in Brandon Presley, the undertones of Mississippi’s political narrative significantly tilted towards the Republicans, aligning with the State Senate, State House and congressional delegation.
The 2023 gubernatorial election, mirroring past trends, saw the victory of incumbent Tate Reeves, who captured the governorship with an approximate lead of 4.4%. Despite a strong campaign from Brandon Presley, Mississippi’s electoral predisposition played a crucial role in the election outcome, favoring the incumbent Republican Governor.