Democrats see Mississippi governor's race as ripe for an upset

[brooklynite]

The Hill

Democrats in Mississippi are feeling optimistic that their party will be able to oust Gov. Tate Reeves (R) from the governor’s mansion this fall after Democrat Brandon Presley’s recent entry in the race.

Reeves has suffered from low approval ratings and has been name-checked at times in the state’s long-running welfare scandal, but the governorship has proved elusive for Democrats in the red state for decades.

The party believes this time will be different. They say Presley, the state’s northern district public service commissioner and a distant relative of Elvis Presley, has an ability to connect with rural voters and that he’s proven he can win elections in some of the reddest parts of the state.

“There is not a better retail politician in the state of Mississippi, period. He knows how to connect with voters. He knows how to listen to voters, which I think is an underrated skill in a politician,” said Democratic strategist Brannon Miller, whose firm has worked with Presley’s campaign previously but is not involved in the gubernatorial race at this time.

Heard this from DNC leadership a few weeks ago.

[Elessar Zappa]

1. That would be awesome.

Reeves is terrible.

[Polybius]

2. You sure Reeves survive a primary?

He's very unpopular.

[OrlandoDem2]

3. Imagine if Democrats can get a governor in MS but in FL the party can't.

We haven’t elected a Democratic governor in FL since 1994 and we aren’t even close.

It’s a commentary on the state of the Florida Democratic Party.