JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
With elections just months away, Mississippi politicians have their hands out, and not just to shake someone else's.
With campaigns in high gear, the money fueling political engines continues to grow.
In a field of nine candidates for governor whose July financial reports were immediately available, current Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant not only leads the pack but has more than double the amount of cash on hand than his closest opponent, with more than $1.1 million. Some contributions total more than $30,000 from a single contributor.
Bryant is followed by opponent Dave Dennis with just more than $500,000 in cash on hand and Hudson Holliday with almost $483,000.
Bryant may lead financially in the race for the state's top spot, but the candidate with the most cash on hand out of any candidate running for a statewide position is current treasurer Tate Reeves who's looking to take Bryant's spot as lieutenant governor.
Reeves currently has almost $1.5 million dollars in cash on hand followed by his closest opponent, current Senator and Speaker Pro Tem Billy Hewes, with just more than $567,000.
Candidates aren't just bringing in the money, they're spending it too, on everything from consulting fees and advertising, to fuel and office supplies.\
Of the 22 statewide candidates whose reports were available Friday, they've so far spent a combined total of more than $8.5 million across the state, region and nation.
Of that amount, gubernatorial candidate Phil Bryant is responsible for almost $2.3 million, far more than any other statewide candidate.
As more candidate's financial reports become available, the spending will increase and so will the campaign efforts all the way to the ballot box.
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