In this year’s race for Governor we have facing a Republican Primary: Tate Reeves, Robert Foster and Bill Waller. On the Democrat’s side are: Jim Hood, Robert Shuler Smith, Valesha Williams, with lesser known candidates such as William Compton Jr., Robert Ray, Gregory Wash, Phillip West, Michael Brown and Albert Wilson. Independents include: David Singletary.
Lt. Governor Tate Reeves has received over one million in contributions in 2019. He began the month of May with $6.7 million cash on hand across all campaign accounts. According to his campaign, for comparison, in 2011, Lt. Governor Phil Bryant had $2,015,988 cash on hand at this point in the gubernatorial race. In 2003, gubernatorial candidate Haley Barbour had $1,308,119 cash on hand by this fundraising deadline.
Reeves is currently leading with contributions in this race.
Attorney General Jim Hood who is making a run for Governor showed contributions of $755,627 in 2019 alone, as compared to the $716,174 he raised in 2018. His ending cash on hand has increased to nearly two-million, at $1.18 million.
General Hood stated, “It is indeed encouraging to see Republicans, Democrats and Independents contributing to our campaign to bring change to our state by creating jobs to get our economy moving and keep our kids at home with good jobs.”
Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Bill Waller, reported total contributions though the campaign of $582,856 year to date, with an ending period cash on hand of over $513k. In a separate filing he showed total disbursements of over $4k to the campaign.
Democratic candidate and current Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith filed that he had $10,671.55 to date of disbursements for his campaign, but filed no recent contributions.
Friends of Robert Foster reported contributions of $72,746 and disbursements of over $66k this period. His total cash on hand at the end of it was over $18k.
Another Democrat in the race, Valesha Williams, showed a current cash on hand of $137.08 with $18,330.37 in total year to date contributions. The current period totaled at $11,739.37, and in the first finance period she had raised $6,591 in contributions.
Independent Candidate David Singletary, running on a campaign to legalize the use of marijuana in the state for medicinal, recreational, and economic reasons, filed his reports a day before the deadline.
Singletary showed contributions at $715, with disbursements totaling $10,114.40.
Democratic candidates Michael Brown and Robert Ray reported raising no contributions year to date. While William Bond Compton reported $1,000 in campaign contributions and no cash on hand. Constitution party member Bob Hickingbottom reported $2,000 YTD contributions as well as disbursements with no cash on hand.
According to the Secretary of State’s office, as of 6:00 p.m there were no reports filed for Gregory Wash, Phillip West, or Albert Wilson.
Sarah Ulmer
