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- Democratic nominee Brandon Presley has made the Mississippi gubernatorial contest a real race.
- The state has long been a GOP bastion, but Presley has campaigned on issues like Medicaid expansion.
- Republican Gov. Tate Reeves is still favored in this deep red state, but the race is seen as close.
At first glance, the Mississippi governor's race may not have appeared to be competitive.
Republican Gov. Tate Reeves, a known commodity in the state, is seeking reelection. The Deep South state, known for its conservatism, has not supported a Democrat for governor since Ronnie Musgrove's 1999 victory. And the last Democratic presidential nominee to win the state was Jimmy Carter in 1976.