Republican State Senator Jenifer Branning has unseated longtime Democratic Supreme Court Justice Jim Kitchens in a tightly contested Mississippi race. The Magnolia Tribune projected her victory Wednesday after absentee ballots and unreported county results shifted decisively in her favor.

On election night, Branning led Kitchens by just 518 votes, with significant ballots still uncounted. By morning, absentee tallies from Rankin, Lauderdale, and Neshoba counties pushed her lead beyond the recount threshold, securing a major judicial win for Republicans.

Kitchens, who served since 2008 and was known for progressive rulings, faced strong opposition as Branning leveraged widespread Republican support and outperformed in absentee votes. Despite hope from Kitchens’ campaign, remaining ballots proved insufficient to close the gap.

This victory represents a significant political shift in Mississippi’s judiciary, solidifying GOP influence in the state.