Mississippi

Democrats seek upset in Mississippi governor’s race

Published

10 months ago

November 5, 2023

Democrats seek upset in Mississippi governor’s race

Mississippi’s gubernatorial race next week could be surprisingly competitive as Democratic challenger Brandon Presley seeks to unseat Republican Gov. Tate Reeves in the deep-red state.

Despite Mississippi’s status as a conservative stronghold, Democrats see an opportunity to flip the governor’s mansion, pointing to Reeves’s relatively low approval ratings and concerns about a long-running welfare scandal in the state as he seeks his second term as governor.

The GOP holds a trifecta in the state — meaning it controls the governor’s office, as well as the state House and Senate — while former President Trump won the state by roughly 16 points in 2020.

But the nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report shifted its assessment of the gubernatorial race last week from “likely” to “lean” Republican.

Reeves “still has the edge,” analyst Jessica Taylor wrote for Cook Political Report, but Presley’s “unusually strong challenger” status has made the race “a competitive fight with added intrigue.”

A number of factors and recent system changes in the Magnolia State “could create a unique constellation of opportunity” for Presley — the state’s northern-district public service commissioner and the distant cousin of Tupelo-born artist Elvis Presley — in next week’s off-year election, said Carrie Archie Russell, a principal senior lecturer and an expert on Southern politics at Vanderbilt University.

Back in 2020, Mississippi voters repealed a requirement that a candidate for governor or other statewide office receive both the majority vote and the majority of the state’s electoral vote to win, a Jim Crow-era, Electoral College-esque system that advocates said diluted Black voting power.

And earlier this year, a court struck down a long-standing law that imposed a lifetime voting ban for people convicted of certain felonies, which was estimated to impact more than 10 percent of the state’s voting-age population, according to The Sentencing Project. The case is now under appeal, according to Mississippi Today.

Given these changes, “Mississippi voters could feel emboldened to show up and participate in a way that was more like a pipe dream in the past,” Russell said. Coupled with Reeves’s popularity struggles, she predicts there could be an avenue for the Democrat to be particularly competitive.

“You can see why pundits and candidates who had taken for granted the fact that Mississippi would remain a ruby-red bastion at all levels of government forever might have to take a deep breath,” Russell said.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, chair of the Democratic Governors Association (DGA), told The Washington Post earlier this year that “Mississippi is the sleeper,” citing Reeves’s unpopularity.

A new poll from the Democratic-leaning firm Public Policy Polling, released last week by the DGA, showed Presley and Reeves neck and neck, with 45 percent support for the Democrat and 46 percent for the Republican incumbent in a head-to-head match-up.

The pollster labeled it a “highly competitive” contest with 10 percent of voters still undecided.

A Magnolia Tribune/Mason-Dixon Poll released in early October found Reeves with a more substantial 8-point lead. In August, a Mississippi Today/Siena College poll found Reeves up 11 points.

Presley notably outraised Reeves heading into November’s election, according to reports on filings from the third fundraising quarter, though the incumbent has more left to spend.

In 2019, Reeves, who served as lieutenant governor, bested Democrat Jim Hood, then the state’s attorney general, to fill the seat left empty by his term-limited Republican predecessor.

A Democrat hasn’t held the governorship in Mississippi for 20 years, but Hood notably lost by just 5 points in that race.

“I think that Mississippi is an inflection point for a number of people … and I think the inflection point is a recognition of: The state can’t continue on the path that it is. So we got to do something different,” said Jackson-based Democratic strategist Pam Shaw.

“In Mississippi, we don’t always recognize how close races are. What do I mean? Jim Hood lost four years ago by less than 45,000 votes,” Shaw said, pointing to Reeves’s narrow win in 2019. “Any place else, that would’ve been considered close. In Mississippi, that wasn’t considered close.”

Mississippi-based Republican strategist Austin Barbour said he’s “actually not that surprised” that the gubernatorial race is looking so competitive, and pointed to Presley’s financial backing from the DGA.

“That’s the big difference between what he’s doing this time and what Jim Hood did four years ago … and that’s what’s made this race competitive,” Barbour said.

But Barbour contended the Magnolia State is still highly conservative and Reeves still has the advantage. He also shrugged off concerns about the incumbent’s popularity, arguing there’s not “enough out there for a majority of voters to say, ‘You know what, we need a change in the governor’s mansion, we need to go to a Democrat for the first time in 20 years.’”

The two gubernatorial candidates went toe-to-toe Wednesday for a debate that turned heated at times as they swapped barbs.

Presley has sought to stress the state’s welfare scandal, which centers on the misuse of funds in the state. Reeves has been name-checked in the matter but has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

The incumbent got the “total and complete endorsement” of former President Trump earlier this week — while Trump underscored the support Presley has gotten from Democrats.

“Now Joe Biden wants to put his candidate — and this is his candidate, Brandon Presley — in as Mississippi’s governor. The citizens of Mississippi must not let that happen,” Trump said in a video shared by the Mississippi GOP.

The Republican Governors Association also lauded Reeves after the debate and said “Mississippi is ready for another four years with Governor Reeves.”

The DGA said he “has had 12 years to take action on the issues that matter most to Mississippians. And he’s failed.”

DGA Deputy Communications Director Izzi Levy pointed to the polls, telling The Hill they show “a very competitive race” as “Mississippi Republicans are sounding the alarm about Brandon’s momentum.”

Mississippi’s significant African American population will likely be key to charting any path to victory for Presley next week. Nearly 38 percent of the population is Black, according to census data, and Black voters in the state have been noted to trend Democratic.

“You can’t make up 38 percent of the population and not be important. … That’s just math,” said Shaw, the Democratic strategist. Presley needs Black Mississippians to turn out, she said, and suggested the Democrat has done well at reaching out to those necessary potential voters.

Analysts from “Sabato’s Crystal Ball” at the University of Virginia Center for Politics said in a preview of the races this week that Presley’s “late momentum” may not be enough to get him across the finish line, but it noted that a runoff is “not completely out of the question” in the Mississippi contest if no candidate gets a majority Tuesday.

An independent candidate, Gwendolyn Gray, dropped out of the race and endorsed Presley but will still be on the ballot.

As far as a possible Presley win goes, “such a surprising result would involve two major ingredients: Presley would need roughly 30 percent of the white vote … while getting Black voters to make up at least one-third or so of the electorate,” wrote Kyle Kondik and J. Miles Coleman of Sabato’s Crystal Ball.

As some watch Mississippi with bated breath, eyes will also be on Kentucky’s gubernatorial election next week, where incumbent Gov. Andy Beshear (D) is fending off a challenge from Republican Daniel Cameron.

Democratic wins in the two contests have “the potential to be a bellwether” for 2024 and beyond, said Russell, which could encourage other candidates to “go for it” in states they might have otherwise written off.

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Mississippi

Mississippi State’s Loss Doesn’t Stop SEC from Owning Week Two in AP Top 25

Published

5 hours ago

September 8, 2024

Press Room

Mississippi State’s Loss Doesn’t Stop SEC from Owning Week Two in AP Top 25

Outside of Mississippi State, Arkansas and Auburn, the SEC had a very successful Week Two of the college football season. The latest AP Top 25 poll reflects the strength of the SEC with 6 of the top 7 spots belonging to SEC teams.

Here’s a recap of how the ranked SEC teams fared in the second full week of the college football season:

Click here for a recap of the unranked SEC teams.

Scenes from the game between the Georgia Bulldogs against Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles at Sanford Stadium. / Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

With the exception of giving up three points, this was probably exactly how Georgia expected this game to go. Carson Beck threw five touchdowns and the defense held Tennessee Tech to less than 150 yards of total offense. Anything less would be a surprise.

Matthew McConaughey looks on from the sideline during the game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Texas Longhorns at Michigan Stadium. The Academy Award-winning actor had a lot be happy about in Saturday’s game. / Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

More than 100,000 people saw Texas come into Ann Arbor, Mich. and leave with a huge win. The Longhorns looked like the better team from the first drive of the game where they easily marched down the field. That Oct. 19 game in Austin against Georgia is looking better and better.

Alabama fans hold up a sign reading “Hollywood” for Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Ryan Williams during the fourth quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. / William McLelland-Imagn Images

It was a lot closer than Alabama would’ve liked, but it’s a win that will fend off the “Nick Saban is gone, we’re doomed” crowd. At the same time, though, there were some things that crowd could point to at a later time.

Juice Kiffin makes his way down the Walk of Champions prior to the game between Ole Miss and the Middle Tennessee.

Juice Kiffin makes his way down the Walk of Champions prior to the game between the Mississippi Rebels and the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. / Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Two games against inferior competition and Ole Miss has outscored its opponents 129-3. They’ll take a slight step up in competition next week against Wake Forest, but the Rebels are still about a month away from playing a team that will truly test them.

Missouri Tigers fans apply body paint against the Buffalo Bulls prior to a game Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. / Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Missouri’s schedule just took an unexpected bump in its level of difficulty with No. 24 Boston College joining the top 25. Bill O’Brien is brilliant at game planning and calling plays (not so much with making trades, but that hasn’t reached the college ranks yet). Missouri needs to be on upset alert (and ready to stop the run).

Tennessee Volunteers mascots the Volunteer and Smoky celebrate a touchdown during the second half against the NC State.

Tennessee Volunteers mascots the Volunteer and Smoky celebrate a touchdown during the second half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at the Dukes Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium. / Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

This happens every year. Tennessee looks really good to start the season and by the end Volunteer fans are saying next year is their year. But maybe this year is their year with the way Nico Iamaleava has been playing.

Oklahoma fans watch during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Houston Cougars at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. / BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

Of the two SEC newcomers, Texas is getting most of the attention which makes sense based on the current teams. But folks, don’t sleep on the Sooners. They ruined many of my own childhood memories growing up in Texas. This week’s way-too close game doesn’t help that argument, but think long term.

LSU Tigers student section fans paint their chest Back In the Bayou during pregame before the game against the Nicholls State Colonels at Tiger Stadium. / Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

LSU was one of three SEC teams to play FCS schools after playing top 25 teams last week. The Tigers and Texas A&M both lost, while Georgia won. So, it’s not surprising to see each of them play FCS teams and neither were any of the results.

SEC Week 2 Power Rankings: Which Teams Are Contenders or Pretenders?

WATCH: Mississippi State’s Bowl Hopes Take a Hit with Arizona State Defeat

Mississippi State Crumbles in the Trenches: What Went Wrong Against Arizona State?

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Mississippi

Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo ‘disrespected’ by Mississippi State football’s defensive game plan

Published

12 hours ago

September 8, 2024

Press Room

Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo ‘disrespected’ by Mississippi State football’s defensive game plan

Cam Skattebo slammed Mississippi State on the football field on Saturday night and also took another jab afterward in his postgame press conference.

The Arizona State running back, following a 30-23 Sun Devils win at Mountain America Stadium, took exception to MSU only utilizing three defenders on the line of scrimmage. The results were damning.

Arizona State (2-0) rushed for 346 yards. It was the most allowed by Mississippi State (1-1) in a game since Arkansas in 2016. Skattebo’s 262 rushing yards on 33 carries were the second-most in ASU history.

“They couldn’t stop us in that three-down front,” Skattebo said when asked what made ASU’s run game successful. “Honestly, we all felt disrespected with them in a three-down front. You can’t come in here and put five guys in the box and expect to stop six. I don’t know. We took that a little disrespectful, and we rushed for what over 300 yards? Something around there. It is what it is.”

Skattebo, a 5-foot-11, 215-pound junior, also led Arizona State with 35 receiving yards on three catches.

“I knew these dudes were big and heavy,” he said. “We knew going into the game they weren’t as physical as most other teams but they’re heavy. So when they hit you, it hurts, no matter how hard they’re coming — 300 pounds at 10 miles per hour or 16 miles per hour hurts the same. I just kept my feet moving.”

Mississippi State trailed 30-3 in the third quarter but scored 20 unanswered points to cut the score to 30-23 with 5:27 to play. The Bulldogs never touched the ball again, with the Sun Devils running out the clock on 12 plays.

Skattebo had a game-sealing 39-yard rush that allowed ASU to kneel down.

“Until the end, we had our ups and downs there, but that was fun,” he said. “You can ask these guys up front, bullying dudes, grown men that are 300 pounds, that’s fun to us. That’s fun to the front-five, the front-seven and the running back. The quarterback probably hates it. He probably likes watching, but he didn’t complain one time the whole game.”

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

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Mississippi

Why Mississippi State football loss to Arizona State revealed a strong Jeff Lebby culture

Published

19 hours ago

September 8, 2024

Press Room

Why Mississippi State football loss to Arizona State revealed a strong Jeff Lebby culture

It was 11:10 p.m. Saturday in Starkville when Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt barreled into the end zone for his second touchdown of the game.

At that point, it would’ve been fair for Mississippi State football fans to call it a night. The Bulldogs (1-1) trailed 27-3 at ASU in the final minute of the second quarter. They were dominated in just about every statistical category. New coach Jeff Lebby looked like he was headed toward his first loss, and an embarrassing one.

And even if you gave the second half a chance, eyes just a crack open, that wasn’t encouraging either. Arizona State (2-0) took the opening drive of the third quarter for a field goal while eating 8 minutes, 27 seconds of game time. That just about decided the game before Mississippi State touched the ball in the second half.

Wrong.

Instead, MSU scored touchdowns on three of its next four drives and cut the score to 30-23 with 5:27 to play. The defense, which was torched for 346 rushing yards, needed one more stop to let the offense try to tie it. It would’ve been the largest comeback in program history.

Mississippi State’s path to a bowl game seems murkier than it was a week ago. But in the long-term, there’s still encouragement after the 30-23 loss.

“Our guys battled in an incredible way in the second half, and we’re going to hold on to that,” Lebby said in his postgame radio interview. “We’re going to find ways to get back in the building, get back to work and be able to walk into Davis Wade (Stadium) with a ton of confidence and ready to go win a football game.”

The encouragement from Mississippi State’s comeback effort

Lebby said after beating Eastern Kentucky 56-7 in Week 1 that there is an abundance of teachable moments in wins, just like losses.

There is plenty to point to after losing to Arizona State.

Mississippi State came out incredibly flat. The Sun Devils scored on their first five possessions. The MSU offense had one field goal, two punts, a fumble returned for a touchdown and a turnover-on-downs in the first half. MSU had -13 rushing yards in the first half.

There were concerns entering the game about the travel distance, late kickoff and high temperature. But let’s be real, Mississippi State was playing so poorly at the start that it was hard to judge if those were factors.

“I got to do a better job getting these guys ready to go play out of the gate,” Lebby said. “I thought our energy, our effort and our emotion was really good, but then we did not play clean there in the first quarter, so that part was frustrating.”

The Bulldogs outscored the Sun Devils 20-0 in the final quarter and a half. It was a surprise. Arizona State was rolling. Mississippi State was not.

MORE: Introducing Sam Sklar, the Clarion Ledger’s new Mississippi State beat reporter

For Lebby, a first-time head coach at any level, let it be a learning moment for him. It was his first time getting pinned in a corner. The Bulldogs adjusted correctly in the second half like good coaches do.

The rushing offense and defense both need to improve. Badly. Quarterback Blake Shapen has been impressive in his first two Mississippi State games and the wide receiver room is deep and talented as ever, but they can’t be the only answer.

That’s just for this season.

Mississippi State has its first tally in the loss column. But it isn’t a strike against Lebby leading the future of the program.

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

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