According to Monday’s campaign finance report filed with the office Secretary of State, Reeves received $545,683 in May. Reeves’ former chief justice of the state Supreme Court, Bill Waller Jr., is running in the Republican primary. He raised $175,573 over the same period and has $541,126 cash on hand. Waller released a statement saying that he did not enter the race to begin fundraising in February and had not yet begun fundraising. “Ignoring problems will not fix anything, and that’s why i’m proposing ideas to position our state economy for more growth opportunities in the future.” Robert Foster, a freshman Republican from DeSoto County, raised $34,793 in March and has $16,596 cash on hand. Foster said that he missed the deadline of 5 p.m. to file his report because he was looking for an internet connection in Smith, where he was campaigning. He filed the report 30 minutes later than the deadline. Foster maintained that he is running an grassroots campaign and would be able overcome Reeves’ fundraising advantage. Reeves made a statement that he was focusing on his likely Democratic opponent, Attorney General Jim Hood, and not his Republican opponents. Parker Briden, campaign spokesperson, stated that “Conservatives in Mississippi know Tate Reeves can defeat the Democrats this Nov.” “We are grateful to all who have invested to protect our values and this crucial race. We can’t allow Jim Hood to give his Liberal Party a foothold in Mississippi.” Hood raised $210 373 in May and has $1.2 million cash on hand. The campaign released a statement saying that Hood’s bipartisan campaign for a better Mississippi, which puts the interests Mississippi families first, continues to gain strength. We have more cash than we had one month ago and greater grassroots support. “Voters are increasingly supporting Jim Hood’s campaign for roads and bridges, improve schools, rural hospitals open, cut grocery taxes, and create good-paying jobs,” said seven other Democrats who will be competing against Hood in the Aug. 6 Democratic primaries. Robert Shuler Smith, Hinds County District attorney, was the only elected official in this primary. He raised $3,400 in May, and has $1715 cash in his hand. William Bond Compton Jr., Meridian, raised $1,000 and does not have any cash. Albert Wilson, Robert Ray and Gregory Wash were also Democrats. They had not filed their paperwork by Monday night. Bob Hickingbottom (third party candidate) reported that he had $2000 in cash and no cash in hand. Independent David Singletary raised $250, and had no cash in hand.