Examining Some Important Governor’s Races

Your state’s governor and legislature make public policies and laws that affect your daily life. The political party that holds the governor’s office has more influence over the legislation and policies of the state. Democrats currently hold the governor’s office in 24 states, while Republicans hold the office in 26 states. There are no Independent or third-party governors. Here, Election Central takes a closer look at the race for governor in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Kentucky. 

Mississippi 

Republican Tate Reeves is the current, or incumbent, governor of Mississippi. There are many reasons why some political analysts think Reeves may win the election. Statistics show that incumbents, or current office-holders, are more likely to win reelection. Over 70 percent of governors who seek reelection are successful. In recent national elections, Mississippi also has more people who vote for Republican candidates. Voters in Mississippi have also elected more Republicans to the current state legislature than Democrats, giving Republicans a majority. Republicans hold all statewide offices. With such a strong Republican base, Reeves has a built-in advantage with voters. As of August 2023, Reeves also has more than five times the amount of money to spend on his campaign than his challenger. 

However, not all political analysts agree that Reeves will win the election. Some believe Brandon Presley, the Democratic candidate, has a very good chance of winning this year’s governor election. Analysts point to recent legal cases involving state employees’ misuse of government funds. Although no officials have accused Reeves of anything, Mississippians might think he holds some responsibility and vote for Presley instead. Presley also has public service experience. He served as Mayor of Nettleton, Mississippi, in the early 2000s. Voters also elected Presley four times to the Public Services Commission. The wide margin of his victories shows his popularity in a mostly Republican area. Presley’s campaign has focused on issues important to many Mississippians, including access to health care and lowering taxes, which may gain him more votes. 

Louisiana 

Like Mississippi, Louisiana has a reliable record of voting for Republican candidates in national elections. Despite a solid Republican base in the state, Republicans and Democrats have held the governor’s office in Louisiana for equal amounts of time since 1992. Louisiana also has a majority Republican state legislature. The current governor, John Bel Edwards, is a Democrat. But he cannot run for reelection because Louisiana only allows governors to serve up to two terms. Louisiana will hold an open primary in October to determine who will be on the ballot in November. In an open primary, the two candidates with the most votes, regardless of political party, will be on the ballot. While there will be 16 people in the primary, polls and political analysts expect that Republican Jeff Landry and Democrat Shawn Wilson will be the gubernatorial candidates (those running for the governor’s office) in November. 

Landry is a former Congressman and the current Louisiana Attorney General. He is recognizable to most Louisiana voters. Many people have voted for him in the past. Former president Donald Trump also endorses him. The endorsement may be helpful as more than 58 percent of Louisiana voters cast a ballot for Trump in the 2020 presidential election. Landry is leading in polls conducted by media outlets and campaigns, but Democrats believe Shawn Wilson could win the election. Wilson has also participated in state government for over 20 years, most recently as Secretary of Transportation and Development. Wilson might also gain votes because Governor Bel Edwards endorsed him. If Wilson wins the election, he will be the first African American elected in a statewide election since 1872. 

Kentucky 

Like Mississippi and Louisiana, Kentucky usually votes Republican in national elections and has a Republican majority in the state legislature. Also, like Mississippi, a Kentucky candidate benefits from being the incumbent governor. Andy Beshear, the popular Democratic governor, is running for reelection. Beshear’s popularity partly comes because voters feel he effectively handled recent floods and tornadoes while in office. Beshear also benefits from being previously elected as Kentucky attorney general and the son of a former two-term governor of Kentucky. 

Even though only three Republicans have held the Kentucky governor’s office since 1950, some political analysts feel Republican candidate Daniel Cameron could win the election. Cameron is familiar to voters in the state. He was the first African American attorney general elected in Kentucky and the first major-party African American nominee for Kentucky governor. Former president Donald Trump also endorses Cameron. More than 60 percent of Kentucky voters cast a ballot for Trump in the 2020 election. Beshear currently holds the lead in media and political party polls. But Kentucky voters will likely see a lot more of both candidates as the election gets closer. Democratic and Republican groups are spending more money on ads to support their candidates. 

Dig Deeper Research the last election for governor in your state. Identify the candidates and the main issues each one supported. Based on the information you find, who would you vote for? Why?