Mississippi Gov. According to Decision Desk HQ, Tate Reeves was predicted to win reelection against Democrat Brandon Presley for a second term.

Reeves had been expected to win the election on Tuesday, but Presley put in a fight that many observers thought was surprisingly competitive to try to flip the governor’s chair in the ruby red state.

Reeves was backed by the former president Trump and won in a state with a strong conservative majority that hasn’t had a Democratic Governor in over 20 years.

Reeves, the Republican incumbent, won the vacant seat by a margin of 5 points in 2019 against Jim Hood, the Democrat state attorney general.

Brig. Gen. Mookie Walker Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Chris “Mookie” Walker Mookie Walker put his life on the line countless times to keep you safe. Now he’s facing a tough primary and won’t win unless you stand up right now and offer your support. Help Star PAC put Mookie in Congress! 1776 Coalition Sponsored

Presley was a Democrat who is a distant cousin to Elvis Presley and a commissioner of public services for the northern district in the state. Some saw an opportunity to flip the state despite its ruby red color, as incumbent Reeves was under scrutiny for his popularity, ties to the welfare funds scandal, and Reeves’ narrow win in 2019.

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

Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan election handicapper, changed its assessment last week of the Mississippi gubernatorial contest from “likely” (as in “likely”) to “leaning” Republican as Election Day approached.

Presley raised more money than Reeves in the third quarter of fundraising, but the incumbent still had more to spend.