Mississippi Today reported Hood’s gubernatorial campaign in a two-day, six stop statewide tour that began with a Houston press conference at Chickasaw County Courthouse. Late Monday, Hood issued a statement saying that he would suspend his planned statewide announcements in remembrance of the Brookhaven officers who died in the line-of-duty last weekend. I will make one announcement in my hometown… to be able to attend the funerals for these brave officers on Wednesday or Thursday. Keep the Brookhaven Police Department and the families of Patrolman James White, Corporal Zach Moak in your prayers and thoughts. The Houston event will take place at 9 a.m. on Wednesday. The state’s four-term attorney general, the only statewide Democratic elected officer, has been flirting with a gubernatorial run for months. He told reporters multiple times that he was considering it and that he had been encouraged by both Democrats and Republicans to run. I don’t have the answer to your question. “I do know that we have to change what they’re doing over here” at Capitol, Hood said in 2016, in response to a question regarding a possible gubernatorial race. Hood’s campaign team planned to hold public events Wednesday in Houston as well as Jackson and the Mississippi Coast. According to sources, Hood’s campaign planned to visit Hattiesburg and Indianola on Thursday. Hood is the favorite to win his party’s nomination for governor. Republican Lt. Governor Tate Reeves has been considered the frontrunner to the GOP nomination. Reeves has yet to announce whether he will run for governor. However, he reported $5.4 Million in cash in January campaign finance reports. Hood raised $662,500 in 2017 and spent $305,000, bringing his total cash to $656,000. Hood is thought to be the best hope for Democrats to regain the governor’s seat since 2003, when Ronnie Musgrove was defeated by Haley Barbour in a closely contested race. Hood is a popular politician in the state. Hood’s tenure as attorney general has been focused on cybercrimes. Hood’s use of outside legal counsel to pursue large-scale corporate lawsuits has caused controversy, especially among Republicans. Hood admitted that he had been considering running for governor in recent months. However, he stated that he was still waiting for Debbie to approve the campaign. Sources claim that Debbie Hood will present her husband at Wednesday’s event. Editor’s Note: This story was published earlier on our website before the attorney general issued an announcement suspending his plans for statewide announcements. To support this work, you can make a regular donation to the Spring Member Drive today. This will allow us to continue important work such as this story. Our reporters give a human face to policy’s impact on everyday Mississippians by listening more closely and understanding their communities. To ensure that our work is aligned with the priorities and needs of all Mississippians, we are listening to you. Click the button below to let us know what you think.