Republicans again dominate fundraising for statewide races in MS. See how much each got

With less than a month to go until the decisive primaries for Mississippi's 2023 statewide elections, candidates reported bringing in millions of dollars during the month of June in their campaign finance reports that were due Monday.

After the previous month showed a candidate in the contested Republican primary for lieutenant governor leading the way in fundraising, the June report showed that donors were more focused on the governor's race last month.

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 June donations, spending and cash on hand:

Governor

Incumbent Republican Gov. Tate Reeves added to his already impressive campaign war chest in June to the tune of more than $1 million. Those total stands out as the largest single-month report of any candidate this election cycle, and it is nearly double the amount raised in the same period by the person he's likely to face in the general election, Democrat Brandon Presley.

Reeves reported raising $1,016,623 in June, while spending more than $826,000. His campaign committee was sitting on more than $7.66 million as of the end of June. 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 $9.63 million. Despite an increase in spending compared to the May report, Reeves gained more than $200,000 in total cash on hand, between the two accounts.

"I’m honored by the support I’ve received this cycle, most importantly from the voters of Mississippi," Reeves said in a statement. "We’re delivering education results that lead the nation, growing our economy by bringing in more, high-paying jobs, and developing the best workforce around — Mississippians are eager to keep this momentum going."

While less than Reeves, Presley also showed a strong showing — particularly for a Democrat running in traditionally-Republican Mississippi. Presley reported raising more than $514,000 in June, while spending more than $346,000. At the end of June, Presley reported sitting on more than $1.88 million. Those figures far outpace the previous Democratic nominee for governor, Jim Hood. In 2019, Hood came within about 5% of Reeves. Hood raised about $200,000 less than Presley in the month of June and sat on about $400,000 less in cash on hand, at this point in that race. Nearly half of Presley's June donors were new, according to a news release from the Presley campaign.

“Our campaign continues to reach people from all over Mississippi who know that Brandon Presley is the right choice to clean up Tate Reeves’ corruption, cut taxes for working families, and strengthen our healthcare system,” Presley Campaign Manager Ron Owens said in a statement. “Tate Reeves continues to prioritize his highest donors over working Mississippians — even during devastating tornadoes — but these record-breaking numbers show that people know Brandon will be the type of leader who will put Mississippians first.”

Republican challenger John Witcher reported raising about $5,600 in June, while spending about $28,000. Wilcher's cash on hand total stands at about $18,000.

Independent candidate Gwendolyn Gray reported raising about $32,000 in June, while spending about $4,000. Gray's cash on hand stands at about $29,000.

Lieutenant Governor

Incumbent Republican Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann continues to increase his fundraising advantage over his primary challenger, state Sen. Chirs McDaniel. As of the end of June, Hosemann's cash on hand total remained at a level more than 10 times the size of McDaniel's reported total.

The race between Hosemann and McDaniel has entered its home stretch, with less than a month until the Aug. 8 primary.

Hosemann reported raising about $548,000 in June, while spending about $835,000. Hosemann's cash on hand sits at more than $3.4 million, down from about $3.7 million at the end of May.

"We are in a strong position to continue to share our platform which focuses on making Mississippi an even better place for our children and grandchildren," Hosemann said in a statement.

Hosemann's filing still did not include any 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 it seems that donation had not occurred by the end of June.

McDaniel reported raising about $98,000 in June, while spending more than $146,000. McDaniel's cash on hand sits at about $338,000, down from about $386,000 at the end of May.

McDaniel's June report was the first he has filed since announcing his run for lieutenant governor that did not include donations made outside of the reporting window. For example, his May report included three donations that were made in June. Those three June donations appear to be included in the most recent report as well. 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.

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, did not have a June financial filing posted as of Tuesday afternoon. In the May report, Grover raised and spent $0 and had no cash on hand.

Attorney General

Incumbent Lynn Fitch, who in 2019 became the state's first Republican attorney general since Reconstruction, continues to hold a lead in fundraising and cash on hand over her Democratic opponent, attorney Greta Kemp Martin.

Fitch reported raising about $63,000 in June, while spending about $30,000. Fitch's cash on hand stands at about $1.23 million.

Kemp Martin reported raising about $24,000 in June, while spending about $29,000. Kemp Martin's cash on hand stands at about $18,000.

Secretary of State

Incumbent Republican Secretary of State Michael Watson far outpaced Democratic challenger Shuwaski Young in June fundraising.

Watson reported raising about $104,000 in June, while spending about $13,000. Watson's cash on hand stands at about $884,000.

Young, whose complaints of lack of fundraising support from the state party date back to his previous run for Congress, reported raising about $3,200 in June, while spending about $4,800. Young's cash on hand stands at $853.58.

Young's report was filed on time on Monday, after his report detailing May contributions and disbursements was nearly two weeks late.

Auditor

Incumbent Republican Auditor Shad White, who has made national headlines in his first term for his part in uncovering and investigating the state's welfare fraud scheme, continues his huge fundraising lead over Democratic challenger Larry Bradford.

White reported raising more than $71,000 in June, while spending less than $3,000. White's cash on hand stands at about $1.69 million.

Bradford's handwritten report is hard to make out, but it appears to list him raising more than $37,000 in June, after raising $0 previously this year. It appears to list his spending at about $9,200 and his total cash on hand at about $28,000.

Treasurer

Incumbent Republican state Treasurer David McRae maintains a strong lead over Democratic challenger Addie Green, despite McRae reportedly raising no money in June.

McRae's $0 raised and $500 spent last month leaves him with a cash on hand total of more than $205,000.

For the second month in a row, Green filed a handwritten report claiming to have raised $1,080 and holding that same total in cash on hand. Green seems to have initially written $1,080 for amount raised, spent and cash on hand in a section of the form reserved for pre-2018 funds, as she did last month, before crossing that section out and writing out "amendment." In the post-2018 section, Green reported spending $0, leaving the two $1,080 figures. It is unclear whether that $1,080 is the same as the amount claimed in last month's report, but that is also the total claimed for the whole calendar year-to-date.

Commissioner of Agriculture

Republican Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson faces three Democratic challengers, though he still holds a fundraising advantage over them all.

Gipson reported raising about $6,800 in June, while spending slightly less than he raised. Gipson's cash on hand stands at about $192,000.

Robert Bradford, one of the Democrats challenging Gipson, reported raising about $1,100 in June, while spending about $1,400. Bradford's cash on hand stands at about $2,200.

Bethany Hill, another Democratic challenger, reported raising $370 in June, while spending about $430. Hill's cash on hand stands at about $5,600.

Terry Rogers, a third Democrat who is seeking to be the youngest statewide elected figure, reporting raising and spending $0 in June. 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, including the filing for May which was submitted late.

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 about $39,000 in June, while spending about $47,000. Chaney's cash on hand stands at about $289,000.

Republican challenger Mitch Young reported raising and spending $0 in May, after having both raised and then spent $500 earlier in the year. Young's cash on hand stands at $0.

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

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Millions pour into statewide elections in June as primaries approach