Mike Espy has raised more than $520,000 this year as the Democrat prepares for a rematch with Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, according to a campaign spokesman.

Spokesman Joe O'Hern said Espy, with nearly $400,000 on hand, is in better financial position now than he was two years ago during the early stages of the 2018 campaign.

Of the $520,000 raised this year, O'Hern said about 7,300 individuals made more than 10,000 contributions, making the average donation about $48. A significant number of donations came from Mississippians, O'Hern said, though the campaign is "definitely garnering national attention."

The deadline to turn in fundraising numbers to the Federal Election Commission is next week, and a spokesman for Hyde-Smith's campaign said they had not yet prepared their financial report.

The reports will include all donations made this year through the end of March.

Earlier this year, financial reports showed Espy's campaign had outraised Hyde-Smith.

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Hyde-Smith, then the commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, was appointed to the U.S. Senate in April 2018 after the resignation of Sen. Thad Cochran, who had held the seat for nearly four decades.

Espy is a former U.S. representative who served as the secretary of agriculture under President Bill Clinton.

Hyde-Smith went on to defeat Espy in a special election in late 2018. It was a hotly contested race that drew national attention. Millions of dollars poured into the race near its end.

This year, campaigns could have to deal with a curveball, the coronavirus, which has already started to play a role in the campaign.

O'Hern said the Espy campaign has canceled in-person events until health officials say it is safe to hold them. In the meantime, the campaign has turned to virtual events.

"We were definitely set up and prepared to run a good digital campaign," O'Hern said.

Contact Giacomo "Jack" Bologna at 601-961-7282 or gbologna@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @gbolognaCL.