Branning projected to win court

State Sen. Jenifer B. Branning is still projected to win her state Supreme Court race runoff election with over 50 percent of the vote,

Political observers say the tightly contested race came down to absentee and affidavit ballots. 

Branning is ahead by 1,216 votes, and there are not enough outstanding affidavit or absentee ballots to overcome that, according to Pete Perry, a Republican political strategist in Jackson and a Neshoba County native. There may be 300 — probably fewer — votes outstanding, he said on Tuesday morning.

In Neshoba County, Branning led incumbent Justice Jim Kitchens with about 90 percent of the vote, 3,478 to Kitchens’ 529, complete but unofficial results show.

In the runoff, 4,377 ballots were cast in Neshoba County, a significant decrease from the 10,861 ballots cast on Nov. 5 in the general election. Neshoba County has a total of 17,319 registered voters.

Statewide, Branning had 63,299 votes Tuesday morning compared to Kitchens' 62,083, according to The Associated Press.

In the General Election on Nov. 5, Branning led Neshoba County with 8,501 votes, outpacing Kitchens, Bryon Carter, Ceola James, and Abby Gale Robinson. 

In the general election, Branning led with about 41.8 percent of the vote, or 132,240 votes, while Kitchens received 35.6 percent or 112,935 votes. 

“I am confident that my experience as an attorney of 20 years and as a current legislator make me uniquely qualified to serve the people of District 1 in the Mississippi Supreme Court,” Branning told the Democrat following her announcement to run in January.

“Just as our citizens expect consistency, integrity and efficiency in the application of our laws, so does the business community,” she said. “I am proud of the conservative, pro-business record I’ve had in the legislature, and I look forward to earning the votes of the people in District 1."

On Monday, Branning posted a message on her Facebook page that said:

“I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday. Our campaign is very optimistic about the final result of the election as we wait on the small number of mail-in absentee votes being counted between now and 5:00 p.m. this Wednesday. All results must then be certified by each county this Friday. Thank you again for your continued prayers, words of encouragement and support—and I will post any updates as we receive them.”

A special election will be set to fill Branning’s state Senate seat once the results from the Nov. 5 election are certified.