JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves received a second time period Tuesday within the conservative state his get together dominates.

Reeves defeated challenger Brandon Pressley, who raised more cash and made a robust push to provide Democrats a uncommon statewide victory within the Deep South.

“Mississippi has momentum, and that is Mississippi’s time,” Reeves advised cheering supporters at an occasion within the Jackson suburb of Flowood, echoing the central theme of his marketing campaign.

The temper at Presley’s occasion in Jackson, D.C., was sombre when he stated hours after the polls closed: “Tonight is a setback, however we cannot hand over hope. … This marketing campaign has raised points that wanted to be raised in Mississippi.

The race was unusually aggressive for this GOP stronghold. However Reeves prevailed with a message centered on job creation, decrease unemployment, and improved training. He additionally described Pressley as a liberal supported by out-of-state donors who had been past Mississippi.

“For Brandon Pressley to consider something he says, it’s a must to consider that every little thing in Mississippi is dangerous,” Reeves stated final week throughout the one debate between the candidates.

Presley, a state public utility regulator and Elvis Presley’s second cousin, stated Reeves damage the state by refusing to broaden Medicaid to incorporate individuals who work low-wage jobs that do not present medical insurance. Pressley vowed to wash up authorities corruption, pointing to welfare cash being spent on tasks for the rich and well-connected slightly than serving to a few of the poorest individuals in one of many poorest states within the nation.

“He isn’t going to open his mouth about ethics reform,” Pressley stated of Reeves. “He’s the poster youngster of this corrupt, corrupt system.”

Republicans have held the workplace of governor of Mississippi for the previous twenty years. They maintain all statewide places of work and revel in a large majority within the legislature. The final time a Democrat received a presidential election in Mississippi was in 1976, when Georgia President Jimmy Carter was on the poll.

The tight contest was disrupted by voting chaos when ballots ran out within the state’s largest county and voters endured lengthy strains in the important thing Democratic stronghold. A choose ordered all polls within the county to stay open for an extra hour, till 8 p.m. CST. One other choose stated that 4 polling stations in some Jackson suburbs needed to prolong voting till 9 p.m

Hinds County election commissioners — all Democrats — had been stated to have underestimated turnout and didn’t get sufficient ballots solid. Lengthy strains of pissed off voters remained ready for batches of ballots to reach after which promote out once more.

“There may be absolute incompetence,” stated Perry Perkins, an organizer with Working Collectively Mississippi, a nonpartisan group that coordinates voter mobilization. “This can be a farce.”

Presley’s marketing campaign raised $11.3 million this 12 months, in comparison with $6.3 million for Reeves. However Reeves began the 12 months with more cash. By late October, Presley had spent $10.8 million and nonetheless had $1.3 million, whereas Reeves had spent $11 million and nonetheless had $1.2 million.

Reeves, 49, served two phrases as state treasurer and two phrases as lieutenant governor earlier than profitable an open race for governor in 2019.

Pressley, 46, was mayor of his small hometown of Nettleton for six years earlier than being elected in 2007 to the three-person Mississippi Public Service Fee, which regulates utilities.

And in different competitions:

• Republican Lt. Delbert Hosemann received a second time period, defeating a Democratic challenger who had spent little cash, enterprise marketing consultant Dr. Ryan Grover. Within the contentious August Republican major, Hosemann defeated state Sen. Chris McDaniel.