Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood has won the Democratic nomination for governor.

He defeated seven lesser-known candidates Tuesday and will face a Republican, an independent and a Constitution Party candidate in November.

Republican Gov. Phil Bryant could not seek a third term this year. Hood is trying to become Mississippi’s first Democratic governor since Ronnie Musgrove was defeated in 2003 after a single term.

The 57-year-old Hood is completing his fourth term as attorney general and is the only Democrat holding statewide office in Mississippi. He was previously a district attorney.

Hood frequently says he’s running for governor to help “the least among us,” including the poor. He says Mississippi needs to improve schools and highways.

Mississippi, Louisiana and Kentucky are electing governors this year.