Brandon Presley’s gubernatorial campaign raised more money last month than Republican Gov. Tate Reeves, but the incumbent governor still vastly outpaces the Democratic challenger with cash on hand. 

Campaign finance reports show Presley, the current Democratic utility regulator in north Mississippi, raised around $1.1 million last month, and he spent around $1.4 million during that same time period. The reports show he has $1.5 million in total cash on hand. 

The largest donation Presley received in July was from the Democratic Governors Association, which announced on Tuesday it was contributing $750,000 to his campaign. 

“Brandon Presley’s message of cleaning up corruption and cutting taxes for working families is resonating all across Mississippi — and that’s why our campaign is announcing record-breaking fundraising that will keep our foot on the gas as we prepare to send Tate Reeves to the unemployment line come November,” Presley campaign manager Ron Owens said in a statement. 

Reeves’ campaign reported raising around $309,000 last month while spending around $555,000 during that same period. His campaign reports having $7.4 million in cash on hand in his main campaign account. 

The governor’s campaign also reported roughly $1.9 million in his “legacy account,” or his campaign account with fewer spending restrictions, totaling around $9.3 million the governor can spend on the current race. 

The governor’s largest contributors last month were three $25,000 donations: one from the Mississippi Association of Builders and Contractors PAC, one from the Mississippi Manufacturers Association PAC and one from Southern Pipe and Supply owner Marty Davidson. 

“Mississippi is home to the best people in the country, and I’m honored by their support for my campaign,” Reeves said in a statement. “I’m excited to continue delivering results that matter to Mississippians, like improving education, growing our economy, lowering taxes, and developing a first-in-class workforce.” 

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Taylor, a native of Grenada, covers state government and statewide elections. He is a graduate of the University of Mississippi and Holmes Community College. Before joining Mississippi Today, Taylor reported on state and local government for the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, where he received an award for his coverage of the federal government’s lawsuit against the state’s mental health system.