Presley starts general election campaign for governor in Olive Branch

Photo: Democratic candidate for governor Brandon Presley speaks to supporters Wednesday, Aug. 9 at Olive Branch City Park. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)

Brandon Presley started his general election campaign for Mississippi governor Wednesday morning with a gathering of party faithful at a pavilion inside the Olive Branch City Park. 

Presley won the Democratic primary without opposition on Tuesday and will face incumbent Republican Gov. Tate Reeves in the Nov. 7 general election. The outgoing Northern District Public Service Commissioner followed Tuesday’s results in his hometown of Nettleton, then started a statewide campaign tour with a prayer breakfast in Plantersville, followed by stops in Olive Branch, Jackson, and Hattiesburg.  

In commenting on Tuesday night’s election results, Presley said Reeves’ results were not as strong as some may think, an indication that many in the state are unhappy with the governor’s job performance.  

“At 74 percent, most incumbent governors have reached way higher than that,” Presley said. “There’s clearly one in four voters who walked in the polls Tuesday and clearly don’t like Tate Reeves. We’re going to go to both voters who have voted against him and voters who voted for him in the primary.”

The Democrat said he will not forfeit any county in the state to Reeves, even the Republican stronghold of DeSoto County.  

“There are a lot of votes up here that we believe would come our way,” Presley said. “I’m not writing off any county in Mississippi and I’m not writing off any voter in Mississippi. I believe you go out and ask voters to vote for you and we’re going to do that all over DeSoto County.” 

In talking to supporters at the Olive Branch stop, Presley continued hitting on Reeves for not eliminating the grocery sales tax, for not expanding Medicaid to save state hospitals, which Presley said he would do if elected on his first day in office, and what Presley said are Reeves’ connections to the welfare scandal that has included state officials, bureaucrats, and sports figures, like retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre.

It was three years ago that the state auditor said the Department of Human Services had misspent tens of millions of dollars in federal money meant to be used to help needy families.

People have faced criminal charges, and a civil lawsuit has led to the publication of eye-opening private text messages.

As far as a possible debate-stage appearance between Presley and Reeves before Election Day, Presley said, “I will debate Tate Reeves anywhere, any time. We welcome the opportunity to debate. I’m certainly rarin’ to go for the debates.”