Mississippi elections: How much campaign cash did candidates raise in May?

Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves continues to raise more campaign cash than his rivals in the gubernatorial race, raking in about $546,000 in May.

The fundraising brings the total raised across Reeves' several campaign accounts to $6.3 million, according to reports filed with the state Monday. 

That's roughly $5 million more than his Democratic rival, Attorney General Jim Hood, who reports about $1.2 million to spend, though likely faces a less competitive August primary race than Reeves. Hood raised about $210,000 in May, and spent about $153,000, reports show. 

Another prominent Republican candidate, former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr., raised more than $175,000 in May, and has $541,000 in his campaign coffers ahead of his Aug. 6 contest with Reeves and Republican state Rep. Robert Foster. 

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann continues to raise big money — $259,000 in May — in his bid for lieutenant governor. That brings him to about $2.9 million in his war chest, and without a well-known primary opponent, he won't need to spend much of it until later in the year. 

Here are fundraising details from other statewide candidates whose reports were posted Monday:

Governor

Robert Foster. The Republican state representative from DeSoto County raised $35,000 last month, and spent slightly more than that. He reports having more than $16,000 to spend.

Velesha Williams. The Democrat from Jackson reported bringing in $2,900 in May, almost all of it a loan from herself. She's reported bringing in $21,000 on the year to her campaign account. 

Robert Shuler Smith. The Democratic Hinds County District Attorney reported raising $3,400 in May, most of it from two individual donations. He spent about $2,000 on social media, and has about $1,700 in cash to spend. 

Lieutenant governor

Jay Hughes. The Democratic state representative from Oxford bought in about $12,000 in the past month. He did not report injecting any of his own money into his account during the period, as he has several times previously. Hughes spent about $81,000, including significant expenditures on consulting and radio ads. He now has $93,000 in his campaign accounts. 

Attorney General

Andy Taggart. The Republican brought in about $52,000 this period. He spent about $171,000, most of it on advertising, and has about $104,000 in cash on hand ahead of a heated August Republican primary.  

Lynn Fitch. The Republican state treasurer brought in $52,000 in May, and spent roughly the same amount. She has more than $400,000 to spend after fundraising going back several years. 

Mark Baker. Republican Baker brought in about $27,000 in May, and spent about $18,000. He still has about $377,000 in cash to spend ahead of a competitive primary, after prior fundraising. 

Jennifer Riley Collins. The Democrat and executive director of the Mississippi ACLU reported raising about $14,600 in May, and spending slightly more than that. She has about $9,600 leftover in her campaign coffers. 

Secretary of state

Johnny DuPree. The Democrat and former longtime mayor of Hattiesburg brought in $4,400 last month, and a total of about $24,000 since the start of the year. But he's been spending at a faster clip: His report says he spent nearly $2,500 more last month than he had in his campaign account. 

Sam Britton. The Republican Public Service commissioner for the southern district reported bringing in about $57,000 last month — but about $50,000 of that was a loan from himself. He spent $173,000 last month, and now reports having about $279,000 in cash leftover to spend. 

Michael Watson. The Republican state senator raised $36,000 in May, spent about $75,000, and has more than $450,000 in cash to spend after prior fundraising. 

Treasurer

Buck Clarke. The Republican Senate Appropriations Committee chairman raised about $34,000 last month, and $100,000 so far this year. He now has more than $225,000 in cash on hand after prior fundraising hauls and spending only $12,000 last month.

David McRae. The Republican brought in $5,800 last month, and spent about $47,000. He still has $322,000 in his campaign account after loaning himself $500,000 earlier this year. 

More:UPDATE: Reeves continues to lead governor race fundraising with $6.7M, Hood with $1.2M

More:Who's giving them money? A look at political donations in Mississippi gubernatorial race

Contact Luke Ramseth at 601-961-7050 or lramseth@gannett.com. Follow @lramseth on Twitter.