Republican President-elect Donald Trump appears to have carried the two largest counties in the four-county region in Tuesday’s general election, as well as the state of Mississippi.
Trump easily crossed the 270 electoral vote threshold early Wednesday to win the presidency. He currently stands at 295 electoral votes, compared to Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris’ 226. He also leads in Arizona and Nevada, though those states have not yet been called.
With voter turnout down across the board compared to 2020, Trump won Lowndes and leads in Oktibbeha County, while Harris took Clay and Noxubee.
Trump carried Lowndes County by a 12,884 (53.4%) to 10,827 (44.8%) margin, with the circuit clerk’s office reporting 63.43% turnout.
Turnout was down more than 2,000 voters from the 2020 general election, when Trump bested President Joe Biden by 2.7%.
Republicans also carried down ballot races Tuesday in Lowndes County by similar margins to the Presidential race, with incumbent Roger Wicker beating Democratic challenger Ty Pinkins by a margin of 13,334 (55.2%) to 10,435 (43.2%), and 1st Congressional District incumbent Trent Kelly defeating Democratic challenger Dianne Dodson Black 13,288 (55%) to 10,424 (43.2%).
All other races were unopposed.
Deputy Clerk Ann Marie Higgins said Wednesday there were still 803 affidavit and mail-in absentee ballots to process.
In Oktibbeha County, Trump leads by a 8,694 (49%) to 8,580 (48.4%) margin, with the circuit clerk’s office reporting 53.61% turnout.
Turnout was down more than 4,600 voters from the 2020 general election, when Biden beat Trump by 5.4%.
Republicans also lead in down ballot races Tuesday in Oktibbeha County, with Wicker beating Pinkins by a margin of 9,284 (52%) to 8,064 (45.5%) in the U.S. Senate race, and Kelly defeating Black 1,051 (77%) to 292 (21%) in the 1st Congressional District race.
In the race for District 3 Election Commissioner, Dennis ‘Denny’ Daniels beat E. Regina Evans with a margin of 1,415 to 1,174.
All other races were unopposed.
Circuit Court Clerk Tony Rook said Wednesday there are still 920 affidavit ballots to process.
In Clay County, Harris won by a 4,924 (53.6%) to 3,979 (43.3%) margin, with the circuit clerk’s office reporting 68% turnout.
Turnout was down more than 850 voters from the 2020 general election, when Biden beat Trump by 16.3%.
Democrats also carried down ballot races Tuesday in Clay County, with Pinkins beating Wicker by a margin of 4,849 (52.8%) to 4,188 (45.6%) in the U.S. Senate race, and Black defeating Kelly 4,816 (52.5%) to 4,192 (45.7%) in the 1st Congressional District race.
All other races were unopposed.
Circuit Clerk Kim Brown Hood said those results included absentee ballots, but there were 161 affidavits still left to process in the county.
Harris carried Noxubee County by a 3,177 (72.6%) to 1,118 (25.5%) margin, with the circuit clerk’s office reporting 59.83% turnout.
Turnout was down more than 960 voters from the 2020 general election, when Biden bested Trump by a 52.4% margin.
In Noxubee County, Pinkins beat Wicker by a margin of 2,878 (65.8%) to 1,275 (29.1%) in the U.S. Senate race.
For Supreme Court District 1 (Central) Position 3 Supreme Court Justice, incumbent Jim Kitchens bested all challengers with 1,995 votes (45.6%), while Jenifer B. Branning received 854 votes (19.5%), Ceola James received 381 votes (8.7%), Byron Carter received 212 votes (4.84%) and Abby Gale Robinson received 231 votes (5.27%).
In the race for District 5 Election Commissioner, John D. Bankhead beat Tony Henley with a margin of 477 to 276.
All other races were unopposed.
Circuit Clerk Rita Phillips said those results included absentee ballots, but there were still 81 affidavit ballots to be processed next Wednesday or Thursday.
Managing Editor Zack Plair, News Editor Abigail Sipe Rochester, and reporters Emma McRae and Cullen Paradis contributed to this report.
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