Democrat Brandon Presley working for governor

Brandon Presley, a Democrat who has spent the previous 15 years regulating utility firms on the state’s Public Service Fee, will announce as we speak that he’s working for governor in 2023.

Presley is among the many most notable Democrats to run for the state’s highest workplace this century, and his candidacy is anticipated to encourage probably the most costly and bitter campaigns in state historical past.

The 45-year-old Nettleton native will launch his marketing campaign and introduce himself to many Mississippians this week with a three-minute video that features a blistering critique of present Gov. Tate Reeves, the first-term Republican who introduced final week he’ll search reelection.

“I’m working for governor as a result of I do know Mississippi can do higher,” Presley says within the video. “We’ve received a state crammed with good individuals however horrible politicians — and that features our governor. Tate Reeves is a person with zero conviction and most corruption. He seems to be out for himself and his wealthy pals as a substitute of the those that put him into workplace. And he’s been caught in the midst of the biggest public corruption scandal in state historical past.”

Presley, whose early marketing campaign technique will goal the state’s sprawling welfare scandal and different corruption in Jackson, has constructed a modest model over time as a politician centered on apolitical priorities like increasing excessive velocity web entry throughout the state and regulating the charges that electrical and water firms cost Mississippians.

Advisers near Presley hope his background, demeanor and concepts enchantment to many Mississippians. A relative of legendary performer Elvis, Presley speaks in a deep Southern drawl. He was raised in a small city by a single mom who labored in a manufacturing facility whereas struggling to pay payments, and he has lengthy dwelled on these youth classes in his public life.

However to wage a successful marketing campaign in 2023, Presley has his work minimize out for him. He’s a Democrat working in Mississippi, probably the most reliably Republican electorates within the nation that has grown ever proof against values championed by many trendy liberals. The final Democrat to win the governorship was Ronnie Musgrove in 1999, and the GOP has tightened its grip on the state’s political complicated since.

Nonetheless, Presley believes he has a compelling case to make to each Mississippi voter, together with Republicans. A political reasonable who self describes as pro-life and pro-Second Modification, he’s labored carefully and efficiently with GOP officers. As Nettleton mayor from 2001-2007, he championed tax cuts and introduced in jobs and infamously crossed over to vote for Republican George W. Bush within the 2004 presidential election. A number of high-profile Republicans have given to his marketing campaign in current weeks, together with a handful of members of Reeves’ 2019 gubernatorial marketing campaign finance committee.

READ MORE: The notable Republicans amongst Brandon Presley’s marketing campaign donors

Late final yr, a Presley supporter even printed out bumper stickers that learn: “Republicans for Presley: Let’s go Brandon!” Dozens of supporters requested the stickers when Presley posted a photograph of the sticker to Fb.

However whereas Presley courts assist from unbiased or right-leaning voters, his principal job will likely be shoring up assist from loyal Mississippi Democrats, who historically make up between 40-45% of the state’s voters. About 75% of the state’s Democratic base of voters are Black, and Presley should communicate to and enchantment to them — a failed goal for a lot of current white statewide Democrats.

Serving to his trigger, although, Presley has labored for years to develop relationships with a number of of the state’s high Black Democratic leaders. Presley has turn into significantly shut with U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, the state’s strongest Democrat boasting a decades-old political community and heavy affect with Black Mississippians. Presley says his marketing campaign will rent a number of political operatives inside Thompson’s circle.

Although different candidates have till Feb. 1 to announce their candidacies, politicos forecast Presley and Reeves will sq. off within the November common election. Although Reeves, the first-term Republican governor, has persistently polled as probably the most unpopular governors within the nation, he’ll benefit from the platform of incumbency and the traditionally fats marketing campaign checkbook that comes together with it.

He’ll have entry to an enormous marketing campaign workers with many years of statewide election expertise and a strong Mississippi Republican Social gathering infrastructure already constructed up and able to roll. And Reeves’ strongest base of assist is alongside the Mississippi Gulf Coast, a inhabitants heart and geographically farthest from Presley’s dwelling turf.

Presley, however, should spend appreciable money to extend his identify ID amongst on a regular basis Mississippians — and significantly on the Coast, the place few persons are accustomed to his political model. Whereas he’ll possible earn the assist of nationwide Democrats and have thousands and thousands of {dollars} to spend, he isn’t anticipated to match Reeves’ fundraising prowess.

However on calls with advisers and pals in current days, Presley has been centered on the significance of the 2023 election for the way forward for the state — not the powerful politics of the second.

“We will construct a Mississippi the place we combat corruption, not embrace it,” Presley says within the announcement video. “The place we minimize taxes, decrease the price of healthcare and create good jobs. A Mississippi the place we lastly concentrate on the long run, not the previous. A Mississippi the place we lead with power and braveness and actual spine.

“And in the event you make me your governor, I promise you this: I’ll always remember who I’m, the place I got here from or who despatched me.”

READ MORE: Can Presley be the statewide winner Democrats can’t appear to seek out?