Jenifer Branning Wins Mississippi Supreme Court Seat

State Senator Jenifer Branning has won a seat on the Mississippi Supreme Court, defeating incumbent Justice Jim Kitchens in a runoff election held on November 26. Branning garnered 64,025 votes (50.6%) compared to Kitchens' 62,585 votes (49.4%), marking a significant political shift in the Central District, which spans from the Delta region to the Jackson metro area. Branning, endorsed by the Mississippi Republican Party, identifies as a 'constitutional conservative' opposed to what she terms 'liberal, activist judges.' Kitchens, who was seeking a third term and had previously served as a presiding justice, received backing from the Southern Poverty Law Center's Action Fund. This election highlights the division in voter support along party lines, with Democratic areas favoring Kitchens and Republican areas supporting Branning. The race was closely watched given its implications for the composition of the state's highest court and the judicial direction in Mississippi.