While Republicans suffered significant losses in Tuesday’s off-year elections, the Mississippi governor’s race was not among them. Late in the evening, at the headquarters of the Office of Decisions, the race was called in favor of Governor Tate Reeves, who managed to avoid a runoff against Democrat Brandon Presley.
The runoff option was up-to-date to this election, but with about 90 percent of votes cast as of Wednesday morning, Reeves has 52.25 percent support compared to Presley’s 46.42 percent.
Decision-Making Office Headquarters Projects Governor Tate Reeves (R) re-elected as Governor of Mississippi.#The decision has been made: 23:15 EST
Find more results here: https://t.co/8sug2Xq9ic pic.twitter.com/qjqrYSHqOo
— Decision DeskHQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) November 8, 2023
As Salena Zito proposed in last week’s column, abortion may have been the reason Democrats were pinning their hopes on the race. The law that overthrew the United States Supreme Court Roe v. Wade With Dobbs v. Jackson Last June’s case came from Mississippi. This is especially engaging considering the abortion issue has consistently been a losing cause for the pro-life movement, including on Tuesday night in Ohio.
Reeves was endorsed by former and potentially future president Donald Trump, and Donald Trump Jr. also shared his support for the governor ahead of Tuesday’s election. It was a mixed evening for Trump-backed candidates as Republican Daniel Cameron lost the race as Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear was re-elected in Kentucky.
The governor thanked Trump in his welcome speech to cheers from the crowd, sharing that he had spoken to him just earlier. Reeves also shared Trump’s support for Mississippi, a state he won with nearly 58% of the vote in both 2016 and 2020.
Congratulations @tatereeves of Mississippi on the occasion of your wonderful re-election as Governor! pic.twitter.com/6J9lTO1HyP
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) November 8, 2023
Thank you! https://t.co/Xyh4wPTBz2
— Governor Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) November 7, 2023
The Republican Party sent congratulations to Reeves, and Republican Party Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel also issued a statement. Governor Kim Reynolds (R-IA), chairwoman of the Republican Governors Association (RGA), and RGA also sent congratulations.
“Congratulations to Republican Governor Tate Reeves on his re-election victory in Mississippi! Even though national Democrats pumped dim money into the state, voters sided with Governor Reeves and the ‘Mississippi Miracle’ accomplished by conservative leadership,” McDaniel said.
Congratulations to the governor. @TateReeves about winning re-election. Mississippi is lucky to have you! pic.twitter.com/LBuYfhNkrs
— GOP (@GOP) November 8, 2023
Congratulations @tatereeves about his spectacular re-election victory!
He is leading the “Miracle of Mississippi” through historic job growth, tax cuts, record teacher pay raises, and better education! https://t.co/NKaNH5kvry
— Kim Reynolds (@KimReynoldsIA) November 8, 2023
