A close runoff election is underway for a position on the Mississippi Supreme Court, with state Senator Jenifer Branning and incumbent Justice Jim Kitchens neck and neck as of Wednesday morning.
Despite the nonpartisan nature of judicial races in Mississippi, Branning received the backing of the Republican Party, while Kitchens attracted several donations from Democratic sources but did not have the official endorsement of the party.
As of the latest counts, Branning is ahead by 2,678 votes out of 120,610 total votes cast. Justice Jim Kitchens, aiming for a third term, is the more experienced of the two candidates and is poised to take on the role of chief justice next. Branning initially had a narrower lead earlier in the day, with only 518 votes separating them.
Reports suggest there are still over 11,000 votes left to count. The first phase of the election saw Branning leading with about 42% of the votes to Kitchens’ 36%, while three other candidates received the remaining votes. The final outcome may hinge on absentee ballots, which can be counted up to five days post-election in Mississippi.
Historically, voter turnout tends to drop between general and runoff elections, and with Thanksgiving just around the corner, both campaigns anticipate a challenge in mobilizing voters. In the recent general election, Mississippi strongly supported President Donald Trump, who received 61.6% of the vote, greatly outpacing Vice President Kamala Harris.
Branning, who describes herself as a “constitutional conservative,” has spoken out against what she calls “liberal activist judges” and the radical left. The Mississippi GOP has endorsed her, labeling her a strong conservative candidate. Although Branning has not held a judicial position before, her experience includes serving as a special prosecutor and working in the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office.
Branning has shown her commitment to law and order by supporting tougher sentences for crimes and previously voted against changing the state flag to remove the Confederate emblem.
Justice Kitchens, who has a substantial legal background with 41 years of practice and has been on the Mississippi Supreme Court since 2008, has also held positions such as district attorney. His recent decisions have included siding with a death row inmate whose key witness changed their story.
In a separate election, Amy St. Pe’ has won a seat on the Mississippi Court of Appeals, succeeding Judge Joel Smith, who opted not to run for re-election.
As the runoff continues, the focus remains on the candidates’ ability to reconnect with voters and secure the necessary support in this close contest.
