May overtakes Burns to win circuit judge race

Caleb E. May took nearly 70 percent of the vote in Neshoba County overtaking incumbent Circuit Judge Brian K. Burns in the Eighth Judicial District on Tuesday.

May of Philadelphia received 20,959 votes compared to Burns’ 13,117, or about 60 percent of the overall vote total, complete but unofficial totals showed Tuesday night.

About 5,000 absentee ballots remained to be counted districtwide this morning (Wednesday), according to estimates.

Here are the complete but unofficial returns by county not including absentees:

Neshoba
May: 6,997 (69.97%)
Burns: 2,999 (29.93%)

Leake
May: 3,706 (53.48%)
Burns: 3,224 (46.52)

Newton
May: 5,620 (67.17%)
Burns: 2,747 (32.83%)

Scott
May: 4,636 (52.78%)

Trump handily wins, new state flag, marijuana approved

It may take a while to figure out who won the 2020 Presidential election, but voters in Neshoba County left no doubt where they stood Tuesday night delivering more than 70 percent to incumbent Donald J. Trump.

According to the final, unofficial count, President Donald Trump and Vice President Michael Pence received 8,311 votes or 71 percent of the Neshoba County vote. Former Vice President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris received 3,246 votes or slightly less than 28 percent.

There were 11,766 ballots cast during the election. That includes 1,430 absentee votes. Election commissioners were expected to certify the vote today.

In the race for the U.S. Senate. Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith defeated Democratic Party challenger Mike Espy for a full six-year term. In Neshoba County, Hyde-Smith received 7,788 votes or 67.03 percent of the vote. Espy received 3,589 votes or nearly 31 percent. Libertarian Party candidate Jimmy Edwards received 234 votes.

Republican U.S. Rep. Michael Guest was re-elected for another two-year term. In Neshoba County, Guest received 8,583 votes or nearly 75 percent. His Democratic Party challenger, Dorothy Benford received 2,982 votes.

In a statewide election for Supreme Court District 1 (Central) Position 1, Justice Kenny Griffis held off the challenge of Judge Latrice Westbrooks. Griffis received 8,430 votes in Neshoba County while Westbrooks received 2,878 votes.

Justice Leslie King ran unopposed for the Supreme Court District 1 (Central) Position 2. He received 10,096 votes in Neshoba County,

Five candidates ran unopposed for election commissioner in their respective district. Going in for a full-term will be Sherry Nance, District 1; Deaneen Whittle Savell, District 2; Harold Richardson, District 3; Heather Kennedy, District 4; and, Charlene Kirksey, District 5.

 Jill Martin Byars ran unopposed for another term as School Board member District 5.

There were three measures to change the state Constitution with all receiving statewide approval.

There were two versions and two votes of the initiative to legalize Medical Marijuana. First voters had to decide whether to approve the use of Medical Marijuana in Mississippi. Neshoba County voters were in favor of the idea with 6,659 votes in favor and 4,445 votes against.

 Then, in deciding which version to use in changing the state Constitution, there were 6,313 votes in favor of Initiative 65, and 2,783 for Initiative 65A.

Another initiative that passed statewide will now mandate a runoff between the top two candidates for any of the state’s eight elected officers, if no one wins a 50-plus-one majority.

The state Constitution previously settled the matter by a vote of the state House of Representatives.

In Neshoba County, there were 8,185 votes in favor of the change and 3,092 against.

The third measure resulted in voters statewide approving the new design for the state flag. Neshoba County results showed 7,823 or nearly 68 percent of the voter in favor and 3,724 against.