Republican nominee for governor and current Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, speaks to reporters after voting in the general election, Tuesday Nov. 5, 2019 in Flowood, Miss. Voters are having their say in Mississippi's most hotly contested governor's race since 2003. They are also selecting six other statewide officials and deciding a host of legislative and local offices. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
The Associated Press
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Republicans are keeping their hold on the governorship in Mississippi, despite facing the best-funded Democrat to run for the position in more than a decade.
Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves on Tuesday defeated Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood and two candidates who ran low-budget campaigns.
Reeves will succeed Gov. Phil Bryant, who is limited by state law to two terms.
"I want to be the governor for all Mississippians and I'm going to work hard every day to do that," Reeves told The Associated Press after his victory.
President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence both traveled to Mississippi in recent days to campaign for Reeves, who is completing his second term as lieutenant governor after serving two terms as the elected state treasurer.
"President Trump's rally and endorsement in Mississippi undoubtedly had an impact and helped Governor-elect Tate Reeves nail down his victory," Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale said in a statement. "Governor Reeves will be a tremendous conservative leader for Mississippians in fighting for freedom and keeping taxes low."
Trump also congratulated Reeves, tweeting: "Great going Tate!"
Reeves, 45, campaigned on keeping taxes low and limiting government regulation of businesses. He also said that a vote for Hood is akin to a vote for "liberal" national Democrats, including U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Hood, 57, is finishing his fourth term as attorney general. For three of those terms, he has been the only Democrat holding statewide office in Mississippi.
Hood was district attorney before winning statewide office, and he told supporters at a party late Tuesday that "the good Lord" has allowed him to serve the people of Mississippi.
"I guess it was not his will that we continue on as governor," Hood said.
Hood's high-profile gubernatorial race came four years after the party's nominee was Robert Gray, a long-haul truck driver who didn't vote for himself in the primary, raised little money and lost the general election by a wide margin.
Hood this year campaigned on improving schools and highways and on expanding Medicaid to the working poor. Expansion is an option under the federal health overhaul signed into law in 2010 by then-President Barack Obama. Mississippi is among the 14 states that have not expanded Medicaid, a decision that Hood said has cost the state $1 billion a year in federal money.
Hood did not invite national Democratic figures to the state to campaign for him in person, but Obama recorded a call that went to some Mississippi residents Monday, urging people to vote for Hood.
Republicans have been governor in Mississippi for 24 of the last 28 years. The last Democratic governor, Ronnie Musgrove, lost in 2003 as he sought a second term.
Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, right, and his wife Elee Reeves, gets ready to vote in Flowood, Miss.,Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019. Reeves, the Republican nominee for governor is in one of the state's most hotly contested governor's race since 2003. Voters will also select six other statewide officials and decide on a host of legislative and local offices. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
The Associated Press
FILE - This combination image of Oct. 10, 2019, file photos shows Democratic State Attorney General Jim Hood, left, and Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves during the first televised gubernatorial debate at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Miss. The Democratic nominee for governor, Hood, is in his fourth as attorney general. The Republican nominee for governor, Reeves, is in his second term as lieutenant governor. They are on the ballot Tuesday, Nov. 5, along with two lesser-known candidates. The winner will succeed Republican Gov. Phil Bryant, who is limited by state law to two terms. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
The Associated Press
Republican nominee for governor and current Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, right, joins other registered voters in voting at his Flowood, Miss., precinct, Tuesday Nov. 5, 2019. Voters are having their say in Mississippi's most hotly contested governor's race since 2003. They are also selecting six other statewide officials and deciding a host of legislative and local offices. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Oct. 14, 2019 file photograph, Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood responds to a question during the second televised gubernatorial debate with Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, in Columbus, Miss. Reeves has spent more than twice as much as the Democrat, as noted in their latest campaign finance report, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019, a week before the Nov. 5 election. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, Pool)
The Associated Press
Cliff Smith, a Ridgeland, Miss., poll worker, offers a voter an "I Voted" sticker after they cast their ballot Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019. Voters are having their say in Mississippi's most hotly contested governor's race since 2003 and are also selecting six other statewide officials and deciding a host of legislative and local offices. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
The Associated Press
Suniya Patel, 9, waits for her mother to cast her vote at this Ridgeland, Miss., precinct Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019. Voters are having their say in Mississippi's most hotly contested governor's race since 2003 and are also selecting six other statewide officials and deciding a host of legislative and local offices. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
The Associated Press
Dawn Wilson and her four children stand in line to vote at the Ridgeland, Miss., precinct Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019. Registered voters are having their say in Mississippi's most hotly contested governor's race since 2003 and are also selecting six other statewide officials and deciding a host of legislative and local offices. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
The Associated Press
Voters cast their choices in their individual kiosks at this Ridgeland, Miss., precinct Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019. Registered voters are having their say in Mississippi's most hotly contested governor's race since 2003 and are also selecting six other statewide officials and deciding a host of legislative and local offices. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
The Associated Press
Fran McNeill, and others can study the candidates and races as they wait for the Ridgeland, Miss., precinct to open its doors, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019. Registered voters are having their say in Mississippi's most hotly contested governor's race since 2003 and are also selecting six other statewide officials and deciding a host of legislative and local offices. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
The Associated Press
Howell Garner, a Ridgeland, Miss., precinct manager, right, offers a prayer prior to opening the doors to voters, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019. Registered voters are having their say in Mississippi's most hotly contested governor's race since 2003 and are also selecting six other statewide officials as well as deciding a host of legislative and local offices. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
The Associated Press
Marcus Watson enters a Ridgeland, Miss., precinct to vote Tuesday morning, Nov. 5, 2019. Registered voters are having their say in Mississippi's most hotly contested governor's race since 2003 and are also selecting six other statewide officials as well as deciding a host of legislative and local offices. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
The Associated Press
Republican nominee for governor and current Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, electronically signs the voters' register before voting, Tuesday Nov. 5, 2019 in Flowood, Miss. Voters are having their say in Mississippi's most hotly contested governor's race since 2003. They are also selecting six other statewide officials and deciding a host of legislative and local offices. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
The Associated Press
A Spann Elementary School student looks over the "Vote Here" sign at the entrance to his school, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Jackson, Miss. Voters are having their say in Mississippi's most hotly contested governor's race since 2003. They are also selecting six other statewide officials and deciding a host of legislative and local offices. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
The Associated Press