Could Elvis Presley’s cousin be Mississippi’s next governor? : NPR

Mississippi Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brandon Presley speaks to reporters throughout a marketing campaign cease on Nov. 6 in Jackson, Miss.

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Mississippi Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brandon Presley speaks to reporters throughout a marketing campaign cease on Nov. 6 in Jackson, Miss.

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What was as soon as seen as a slam dunk for Republicans in Mississippi’s gubernatorial election has morphed into Democrats’ finest shot on the governor’s mansion in 20 years.

Republican Tate Reeves has had each benefit because the incumbent in a deep pink state. Often called among the best fundraisers in state historical past, his fifth time period in statewide workplace has been outlined by a supermajority in each chambers of the state legislature and all statewide workplaces.

His challenger, Brandon Presley, who’s at present one of many state’s three public service commissioners, goals to do what no Mississippi Democrat has achieved in additional than 20 years: get elected to the state’s highest workplace.

“This can be a race I have been watching because the starting of the 12 months, and it was a not possible one to change into aggressive,” mentioned Jessica Taylor, who analyzes governor’s races for The Prepare dinner Political Report.

“However once I had to have a look at all of the components, it was very laborious to disclaim that it’s clearly a aggressive race,” she mentioned, noting Prepare dinner changed the rating of the race from Probably Republican to Lean Republican in late October.

Latest polling exhibits Presley trailing Reeves by only one percentage point, elevating hope amongst historically pessimistic Democrats within the state and alarm of their Republican counterparts that the race may very well be heading for a first-ever runoff.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, heart, greets supporters forward of a soccer recreation at Mississippi State College on Nov. 4 in Starkville, Miss.

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Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, heart, greets supporters forward of a soccer recreation at Mississippi State College on Nov. 4 in Starkville, Miss.

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‘He isn’t at all times probably the most likable man’

On the marketing campaign path, Reeves has touted his conservative report to voters, pointing to positive aspects made in education and economic development throughout his first time period. That message has discovered success inside his base, who usually prioritize the state’s economic system over every other points.

Days from the election, Reeves visited with voters who comprise that base at a 10-acre tailgating space shaded by oak, magnolia and elm on the heart of the College of Mississippi’s campus in Oxford often known as the Grove.

“He is at all times proper on the insurance policies, and so I do not suppose we have to change horses at this cut-off date,” mentioned enterprise improvement guide Geoffrey Yoste, considered one of many Reeves supporters gathered on the Grove earlier than a marquee soccer matchup in opposition to convention rivals Texas A&M.

Yoste informed NPR it is vital Reeves stays in workplace to keep up some type of consistency relating to state coverage.

“What meant probably the most to me is the management that he confirmed throughout the COVID pandemic. I believed that Tate and his workforce did an impressive job. He did not simply utterly lock us down,” mentioned Yoste. “And that was a very vital factor, not just for the college youngsters, however people who had been having to go to work every single day.”

However Yoste additionally touched on a priority that many within the state’s giant Republican base and political equipment have more and more voiced as polling numbers have drawn nearer: likability.

“Reeves will not be at all times probably the most likable man. Everyone can all agree on that,” Yoste mentioned, earlier than musing about Reeves’ opponent: “Brandon Presley is an impressive politician and he is an excellent man, too. He is among the best courthouse politicians within the state. Brandon is likable and so it is going to be a tricky race for Tate.”

“I believe he’ll win,” harassed Yoste, “however no one dislikes Presley.”

A big portion of Reeves’ strategy to the marketing campaign has been his nationalization of the race, portraying Presley as a puppet of liberal, nationwide Democratic Occasion figures like President Biden and Mississippi 2nd District Congressman Bennie Thompson, who served as chairman of the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol.

In a speech on the annual Hobnob Mississippi, the place elected officers, group and financial leaders from throughout the state meet weeks earlier than the final election, Reeves mentioned Presley and nationwide Democrats wish to take over Mississippi itself.

“They do not simply wish to change governors — they wish to change Mississippi,” he mentioned.

Former President Donald Trump formally endorsed Reeves final week, doubtless giving the incumbent a wanted enhance within the runup to the election.

In a video address asserting the endorsement, Trump accused the Biden administration of funding Presley’s marketing campaign and mentioned his election could be “actually dangerous for Mississippi.”

The 2 participated in a joint tele-rally Monday evening in an try and direct Trump’s assist within the state — which voted for the previous president overwhelmingly in each 2016 and 2020 — to Reeves.

Presley takes message his message all throughout Mississippi

A self-described “populist, FDR-Billy McCoy Democrat,” Presley’s political profession started when he was elected mayor in his small, northeastern Mississippi hometown of Nettleton in 2001. He was 23 years previous and have become the youngest mayor ever elected within the state.

He rose to political prominence by means of his efforts to increase high-speed web entry in rural areas, opposition to a controversial and now defunct coal energy plant in jap Mississippi’s Kemper County, and thru his relation to a sure Mississippi movie star: Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll.

However the connection drawn between Presley the candidate and his second-cousin is extra than simply pandering to voters.

Presley has spent a lot of his marketing campaign and its obtainable funds within the pursuit of larger identify recognition across the state, partially as a result of ineffectiveness of the Mississippi Democratic Occasion, even earlier than former chair Tyree Irving was forced to resign in early July.

If the Presley marketing campaign’s purpose was to shake, rattle and roll its technique to the governor’s mansion in downtown Jackson, it has, in some ways, achieved precisely that.

Since asserting his bid for governor in mid-January, Presley had campaigned in all of Mississippi’s 82 counties, and made 55 further stops between mid-October and Election Day.

“I simply suppose it is vital while you’re operating for governor to be out amongst the folks of the state of Mississippi, to allow them to know what you are about, reply their questions, and to hearken to the problems of their group,” he informed NPR. “Every county has its personal completely different set of issues that they wish to speak to you about.”

A lot of his statewide tour has targeted on criticizing Reeves’ inaction on financial points within the state, and what he calls corruption inherent to the administration.

At 7%, the state with the best poverty fee within the nation additionally holds the best gross sales tax on groceries, which Presley has promised to put off if elected.

At many factors on the marketing campaign path, Presley has made the purpose that it is cheaper to buy feed for hogs or different livestock than meals for households residing in poverty in Mississippi.

However maybe the largest flashpoint between the 2 candidates has been Reeves’ refusal to expand Medicaid to an estimated 300,000 Mississippians. Advocates for the enlargement, together with Presley, say it is a lot wanted and will assist tackle the chance of closure in additional than 30 rural hospitals throughout the state.

One such hospital is situated in Greenwood, a city within the Mississippi Delta — a traditionally vital area of the state, but additionally one of many poorest areas within the nation.

Residents there say they fear what the looming closure of the publicly owned hospital, Greenwood LeFlore, may imply for a traditionally impoverished and underserved group.

“What in regards to the folks round right here that may’t go anyplace? What in regards to the folks that do not have a automotive?” mentioned Demetrice Bedell, a lifelong Greenwood resident.

A navy veteran, Bedell says the potential closure presents an particularly harmful threat to those that undergo from a coronary heart assault or stroke.

“That hospital is required — not only for us, however all the encircling space,” he informed NPR. “It is really a life and dying scenario. If you have to take somebody from Greenwood to Grenada, it is going to take you 45 minutes to an hour. That individual goes to die midway to Grenada.”

Presley speaks to supporters throughout a marketing campaign cease in early November in Jackson.

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Presley speaks to supporters throughout a marketing campaign cease in early November in Jackson.

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Presley is attempting to rebuild the Democratic base

One other foremost part of Presley’s marketing campaign has been partaking Black voters throughout the state, one thing 2019 Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Hood confronted vital criticism for not pursuing sufficient en path to his loss to Reeves.

Solely days earlier than the election, Presley made stops at a number of places all through the Mississippi Delta to discuss the significance of this election to a big portion of that voting bloc.

“Holmes County has received to come back vote as a result of we have got an opportunity to win. They’re all nervous,” mentioned Presley.

At a meet and greet within the county seat of Lexington, DJ James mentioned she was happy that Presley came around with voters within the first place — one thing voters within the majority-Black county have change into unaccustomed to.

“Tate Reeves is speaking about how Brandon Presley desires to alter Mississippi. Nicely, Mississippi wants to alter,” she mentioned. “Younger docs graduate from faculty with grasp’s levels, physician’s levels and so they should exit of the state of Mississippi to get a superb paying first rate job. That is not truthful,” she mentioned.

She mentioned the shortage of inexpensive well being care and low wages makes life within the area troublesome.

“We will not purchase medication and pay for physician’s visits. You’ll be able to’t do all that on these salaries — most individuals begin out with $10 an hour,” she mentioned. “A household of 4 can not survive on $10 an hour. $15 will not be sufficient. $16 will not be sufficient. I will be 62 in December and I work three jobs with a purpose to make it. You perceive?”

Chatting with an brisk crowd of greater than 50 in an occasion corridor located between a Greenback Common market and Lexington’s foremost avenue, Presley laid out the stakes.

“I got here right here to speak straight to you: we’re operating out of time on this election. The reality is, they suppose Black voters are going to remain at residence. That is what they’re sitting round saying,” he mentioned. “And the query is — what are you going to do about it? This race may come right down to 30 votes — it is that shut. We’re proper there, y’all, in breaking their energy.”

Taylor, of the Prepare dinner Political Report, says Presley’s messaging worries some Republicans.

“That Medicaid enlargement has a specific resonance in a state like Mississippi,” she mentioned.

Smelling blood within the water, the Nationwide Democratic Governors Affiliation pumped practically $7 million into Presley’s marketing campaign.

However even with such a powerful exhibiting from Presley, Taylor mentioned it is Reeves’ race to lose.

“It is nonetheless a tricky job in a state as pink as Mississippi — unseating any incumbent governor could be very laborious, truly,” she mentioned.

There’s one other issue at play.

Third celebration candidate Gwendolyn Grey dropped out of the race in early October. She endorsed Presley, however solely after the poll was licensed in September, which suggests she’ll nonetheless seem as an choice for voters and will siphon off assist from Presley.

If neither Reeves nor Presley obtain the 50% majority, the state will head to its first-ever runoff election.

Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s Will Stribling contributed to this report.