Republicans lead in fundraising for every statewide election in MS, see how much each got

Fundraising is picking up as candidates in Mississippi move closer to their August primaries and November general elections, with the state's Republicans outraising their Democratic challengers in every statewide election.

In June periodic filing reports, which detail donations to and spending by candidates for the month of May, at least one candidate raised more in that month than in the previous four month filing period of January-April.

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

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

Governor

Incumbent Republican Gov. Tate Reeves came into the June filing with a large war-chest that he had accumulated over the last four years, and he expanded his financial lead over Democratic Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley during the month of May.

Reeves reported raised nearly $668,000 in May, while spending less than $279,000. Reeves' cash on hand stands at about $7.47 million. Reeves' legacy J. Tate Reeves account also reported holding about $1.97 million, bringing the presumptive Republican nominee's total to about $9.4 million. The legacy account neither raised nor spent any of its funds during the May period.

"The governor is dominating every facet of this race: working hard on the campaign trail engaging directly with voters, while raising and spending capital to get our positive message out. Even poorly-constructed public polling has Presley down double digits. We couldn’t feel better about our position," Reeves campaign manager Elliott Husbands said in a statement.

Presley, who recently regained his status as the presumptive Democratic nominee, reported raising more than $355,000 in May, while spending more than $253,000. Presley's cash on hand stands at about $1.71 million. In a news release, the Presley campaign noted that 1,343 contributions were from new donors.

The release also mentioned Reeves' contributions from the New family, who fled guilty to charges in the state's welfare fraud scandal. Reeves has promised to give contributions away to charity if they came from anyone found liable of benefiting from the scheme, but he has not yet done so for the News.

“Unlike Tate Reeves, Brandon Presley has never faced questions for taking money from central figures in the largest public corruption scandal in state history, lied about breaking his promise to return these tainted donations, and then melted down when asked simple questions about his campaign,” Ron Owens, Presley's campaign manager, said in a statement. “Mississippians deserve a governor who will return power to the people’s hands, and they know Tate Reeves won’t do it. This grassroots support is a clear sign that Mississippians are ready for a leader like Brandon who will work for all Mississippians, not just the campaign donors who can write him large checks.”

Republican challenger John Witcher reported raising about $36,000 in May, while spending about $8,000. Wilcher's cash on hand total stands at about $40,000.

Independent candidate Gwendolyn Gray reported raising about $15,000 in May, while spending about $13,000. Gray's cash on hand stands at about $1,800.

Lieutenant Governor

Incumbent Republican Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann outraised his GOP primary challenger state Sen. Chris McDaniel in the month of May, after the previous filing had McDaniel reporting a higher total despite questions surrounding that filing. Hosemann raised nearly five times more in May than he did the previous four-month period, when Hosemann was presiding over the state senate and not holding fundraising events.

Hosemann reported raising nearly $958,000 in May, while spending about $600,000. Hosemann's cash on hand stands at about $3.7 million. That May total is about nine times more than McDaniel reported raising in the same period.

"These contributions allow us to travel the state, meet with Mississippians in every county, and share our successes over the past four years. We’ve enacted the largest tax cut in the state’s history and the largest teacher pay raise in the state’s history, downsized state government, and paid off more than $500 million in state debt," Hosemann said in a statement. "We are so grateful for the support, an encouraging endorsement of our conservative achievements and platform."

Hosemann's filing 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 May.

McDaniel reported raising more than $107,000 in May, while spending about $57,000. McDaniel's cash on hand stands at about $386,000. During the previous filing period, McDaniel returned $465,000 to his old PAC, which it then returned to a nonprofit that some analysts have deemed a "dark money group."

McDaniel also claimed some May donations in his January-April filing. Those donations, totaling $9,800, appeared again on this latest filing, which also claimed three June 1 donations on the report for May contributions. Those three donations add up to $1,600.

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 was Ryan Grover. Grover reported raising $0 and having no cash on hand.

Attorney General

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

Fitch, the state's former treasurer, reported raising about $81,000 in May, while spending about $28,000. Fitch's cash on hand stands at about $1.2 million.

Martin, who is mounting her first run for public office, reported raising about $21,000, while spending about $19,000. Martin's cash on hand stands at about $23,000.

Secretary of State

Incumbent Republican Secretary of State Michael Watson likely holds a significant lead over Democratic challenger Shuwaski Young, though Young's June periodic filing did not appear on the Secretary of State website as of Monday afternoon.

Watson reported raising $15,500 in May, while spending about $4,400. Watson's cash on hand stands at about $793,000.

Young did not respond to requests asking about his filing not appearing. In his latest available filing, submitted in May for the January-April period, Young reported raising about $5,200, while spending about $5,000. That left $246.59 in cash on hand.

Auditor

Incumbent Republican Auditor Shad White, who has made national headlines in his first term for his part in uncovering and investigating the welfare fraud, holds a significant fundraising lead over Democratic challenger Larry Bradford.

White reported raising more than $52,000 in May, while spending about $6,000. White's cash on hand stands at about $1.6 million.

Bradford, meanwhile, reported raising and spending $0 in May. Bradford's cash on hand stands at $50.

Treasurer

Incumbent Republican State Treasurer David McRae, seeking his second terms, carries over most of his cash on hand from previous filings. McRae faces a challenge from Democrat Addie Green.

McRae reported raising $5,000 in May, while spending about $4,000. McRae's cash on hand stands at about $206,000.

Green's handwritten filing leaves questions to be answered. Green seems to have reported raising $1,080, spending $1,080 and having $1,080 in cash on hand. Additionally, those numbers were written in the section of the filing reserved for pre-2018 funds. Green did not respond to a request for clarification by the time of publication.

Commissioner of Agriculture

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

Gipson reported raising about $12,000 in May, while spending about $16,000. Gipson's cash on hand stands at about $192,000.

Robert Bradford, one of the Democrats challenging Gipson, reported raising about $2,000 in May, while spending about $1,100. Bradford's cash on hand stands at about $2,400.

Bethany Hill, another Democratic challenger, reported raising $60, while spending about $200. Hill's cash on hand stands at about $358.

Terry Rogers, a third Democrat who is seeking to be the youngest statewide elected figure, does not have a June periodic filing listed on the Secretary of State's website. Rogers did not respond to a request asking about his filing not appearing. In his latest available filing, submitted in May for the January-April period, Rogers reported raising about $470, while spending about $400. That left $69.64 in cash on hand.

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 $5,000 in May, while spending about $41,000. Chaney's cash on hand stands at about $297,000.

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 during May as races heat up