Internal D Poll Hood+5

[Some of My Best Friends Are Gay]

Lean R. I think Hood makes it closer than Espy did last year. Glad that it at least looks like he’s got the primary wrapped up

It’s a very inelastic state

Dem floor : 41%
Dem ceiling : 46%

The Dem ceiling (under absolutely perfect conditions for the Democratic candidate) is more like 55%, and the floor is likewise more like 36-37%, accounting for extreme circumstances.

[Some of My Best Friends Are Gay]

They liked Hood as AG, but a Democratic Governor might be too much these days.

I'm skeptical a Democratic Governor is too far. Senator, yes. But we've had Democrats win gubernatorial races in redder states like KS, KY, MT, LA, WV, and AR within the last ten years. It'll probably take voters turning sour on Reeves though as well as Hood maintaining good favorables though.

Also look at the Senate Special election runoff from last year, if a liberal black man could come within 6 points of a Republican in a Senate race, I see no reason a moderate white dude with vast experience winning statewide elections in the state couldn't eke out a victory in an off-year gubernatorial race.