Presley led Reeves in July fundraising, a first for MS gov. race, brings in record total

With less than a week to go until the primaries for Mississippi's 2023 statewide elections, candidates reported bringing in millions of dollars during thea month of July in their campaign finance reports that were due Tuesday, including a record total for a Democrat.

Meanwhile, a number of Republican candidates did not have their filings posted as of Wednesday afternoon, making some races more difficult to compare.

Though much of the attention this week will be on contested primary races, the candidate who raised the most money last month is one that does not have a primary opponent.

Democrat Brandon Presley, who is trying to unseat Republican Gov. Tate Reeves, outraised the incumbent for the first time, while also setting a campaign record and outpacing previous Democratic candidates. Presley is uncontested in the Democratic primary, after both of his opponents were disqualified. Reeves faces two opponents in the Republican primary.

Primary election day will be Aug. 8, with a potential runoff coming on Aug. 29. General election day will be Nov. 7, with a potential runoff on Nov. 28.

Here's how each of the state's biggest races stand when it comes to July donations, spending and cash on hand:

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Governor

Presley not only outraised Reeves for this first time. The Democratic public service commissioner raised more than three times as much as the incumbent governor in the month of July. That said, Reeves continues to have a dominant lead in cash on hand, with a war chest nearly five times the size of Presley's.

Presley reported raising $1,128,863.93 in July, while spending nearly $1.5 million. Presley reported sitting on about $1.5 million in cash on hand as of the end of July, down from about $1.88 million in his June filing.

As he has in previous filings, Presley's July figures far outpace those of former Attorney General Jim Hood's 2019 campaign, which came within about 5% of Reeves during that year's general election. Hood raised about $283,000 in July of that year.

In a statement Tuesday, Presley campaign manager Ron Owens alluded to "Mississippi momentum," a campaign slogan Reeves has used to describe the path he has set the state on.

“The real Mississippi momentum is behind Brandon Presley’s campaign to bring change to the governor’s office," Owens said. "This record-breaking fundraising further proves that Mississippians are ready to elect Brandon Presley, who will end corruption, stop Tate Reeves’ healthcare crisis, and cut car tag fees in half.”

Reeves reported raising $309,111.97 in July, while spending nearly $556,000. His campaign committee was sitting on more than $7.4 million, as of the end of July. Reeves also has access to his legacy J. Tate Reeves account, which reported holding about $1.97 million. That leaves Reeves with access to a total war chest of about $9.4 million, down from about $9.63 million in his June filing.

Reeves campaign manager Elliott Husbands said in a statement that the consistent financial support the governor has received, which has allowed him to build such a large war chest, is a sign of the overall support for him and his agenda.

"Mississippians want four more years of Governor Reeves' proven record, and their continued support for his reelection effort reflects that. From record job growth to the lowest unemployment in state history, Mississippi is moving in the right direction under Governor Reeves," Husbands said.

Republican challenger John Witcher reported raising about $7,400 in July, while spending about $19,000. Witcher's cash on hand total stands at about $6,450. The other candidate in the Republican primary, David Hardigree, reported both raising and spending $785.13 in July, leaving him with $0 in cash on hand.

Independent candidate Gwendolyn Gray reported raising $300 in July, while spending $0. Her cash on hand sits at about $29,000.

Lieutenant Governor

With just a week separating the filing and the hotly contested Republican primary for lieutenant governor, both incumbent Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and challenging state Sen. Chris McDaniel reporting spending more than they raised, with Hosemann holding a significant lead in both fundraising and spending during July. Hosemann also spent more than any candidate in the governor's race.

Hosemann reported raising $301,643 in July, while spending more than $1.6 million. Hosemann reported sitting on more than $2 million in cash on hand, down from about $3.4 million at the end of June.

“We’re grateful for the support we continue to receive from Mississippians all over the state,” Hosemann said in a statement. “We are using these resources to get out the vote for August 8 and share our message about positive Mississippi. Together, we can focus on policy which makes our state an even better place for our children and grandchildren.”

Hosemann's filing once again did not include donations from Friends of Mississippi Hospitals, a Political Action Committee associated with the Mississippi Hospital Association. MHA President Tim Moore told Mississippi Today in May that the PAC would be donating $100,000 to Hosemann, as it faced criticism for a $250,000 donation to Presley, but that donation had not occurred by the end of July, with just one week before the primary.

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McDaniel reported raising $167,822 in July, while spending about $288,000. McDaniel's candidate committee reported having about $307,000 in cash on hand, down from about $338,000 at the end of July.

There appears to be a discrepancy between the amount McDaniel spent and the remaining cash on hand. Campaign treasurer Thomas Datwyler did not respond to a request for comment.

Since May, the McDaniel campaign has chosen to file its report through the Committee to Elect Chris McDaniel, but two months later the required statement of organization form for that committee still does not appear on the Secretary of State's website. That form is required to be filed with the secretary of state within 48 hours of receiving or spending more than $200.

Also in July, a new PAC was created called Invest In Mississippi PAC. The PAC spent more than $440,000 in its first month, primarily on advertising. According to its filings with the secretary of state, the PAC was created by Datwyler, a Wisconsin-based political consultant. Datwyler is also listed as treasurer on McDaniel's campaign filings.

A spokesperson for the McDaniel campaign did not respond to a request for comment for this story.

The lone Democrat to file for the race, Ryan Grover, reported raising and spending $0 and having no cash on hand.

Attorney General

As of Wednesday afternoon, a July campaign finance filing for incumbent attorney general Lynn Fitch had not been posted to the secretary of state's website. Unopposed candidates are not required to file primary pre-election reports.

Democratic challenger Greta Kemp Martin reported raising $9,330.08 in July, while spending about $18,000. Her cash on hand sits at about $8,700, down from about $18,000 at the end of June.

Fitch's June filing showed a cash on hand of about $1.23 million.

Secretary of State

As of Wednesday afternoon, a July campaign finance filing for incumbent Republican Secretary of State Michael Watson had not been posted to the website. Watson is running unopposed in the Republican primary.

Democratic challenger Shuwaski Young, who has filed late on previous deadlines, reported raising $2,415.56 in July, while spending about $1,450. His cash on hand sits at about $1,800.

Watson's June filing showed a cash on hand of about $884,000.

Auditor

As of Wednesday afternoon, a July campaign finance filing for incumbent Republican State Auditor Shad White had not been posted to the website. White is running unopposed in the Republican primary.

Democratic challenger Larry Bradford reported raising $176,657 in July, mostly from a contribution he made to his own campaign, while spending $3,133. Bradford's cash on hand sits at about $189,000.

White's June filing showed a cash on hand of about $1.69 million.

Treasurer

As of Wednesday afternoon, the July campaign finance filing for incumbent Republican Treasurer David McRae had not been posted to the website. McRae is running unopposed in the Republican primary.

For the third month in a row, Green filed a handwritten report claiming to have raised $1,080 and holding that same total in cash on hand. It is unclear whether that $1,080 is the same as the amount claimed in her June and May reports. It is also the total claimed for the whole calendar year-to-date.

McRae's June filing showed a cash on hand of more than $205,000.

Commissioner of Agriculture

Republican Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson faces three Democratic challengers, though he maintains his fundraising advantage over them all through the month of July.

Gipson reported raising about $12,983.46 in July, while spending almost $24,000. Gipson's cash on hand stands at about $182,000.

Robert Bradford, one of the Democrats challenging Gipson, reported raising $300 in July, while spending $120. Bradford's cash on hand stands at about $2,400.

Bethany Hill, another Democratic challenger, reported raising $907 in July, while spending about $472. Hill's cash on hand stands at about $700.

Terry Rogers, a third Democrat who is seeking to be the youngest statewide elected figure, reporting raising and spending $0 in July. Rogers also reported having $0 in cash on hand and having raised and spent $0 this calendar year-to-date. That is despite having reported raising and spending funds in his previous filings, most recently in May.

Commissioner of Insurance

Incumbent Republican Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney, the state's longest serving statewide official, faces one Republican and one Democratic challenger.

Chaney reported raising $15,700 in July, while spending about $52,000. Chaney's cash on hand stands at about $253,000.

Republican challenger Mitch Young raising $0 in July, while spending $528. Young's cash on hand is reported at $0, but it was also $0 in his June filing, leaving questions as to the source of the $528 his campaign spent.

Democratic challenger Bruce Burton also reported raising and spending $0 in July, and also has $0 in cash on hand.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Campaign finance totals for July are in for 2023 Mississippi elections