Jenifer Branning and Jim Kitchens campaigning (Photo from the candidates’ Facebook and website)
- The judicial race was the race-to-watch in Tuesday’s General Election.
Incumbent Justice Jim Kitchens and State Senator Jenifer Branning appear to have advanced out of the five-candidate field Tuesday, heading to a November 26 runoff election for the State Supreme Court District 1, Position 3 seat.
Unofficial results with 90% of precincts reporting show Branning with 42% and Kitchens with 36%.
Kitchens, a former three-term District Attorney, has served on the bench since 2008. While judicial campaigns are non-partisan, Kitchens has been endorsed by high profile state Democrats.
Branning has represented State Senate District 18 since 2016 as a Republican. She has drawn endorsements this cycle from the Mississippi Republican Party as well as numerous GOP elected officials.
Combined, the two campaigns have raised nearly $1 million this cycle, with Branning pulling in nearly two-thirds of those donations.
The other three candidates on the ballot Tuesday were Byron Carter, Ceola James, and Abby Gale Robinson.