09-05-2025
Jackson's Republican mayoral runoff was practically a secret: Who won? How many voted?
In a city with roughly 138,000 residents, just 159 voters cast ballots in Jackson's Republican mayoral runoff on April 22 — a remarkably quiet election that decided the party's nominee between candidates Kenny Gee and Wilfred Beal.
According to the official results certified by the Mississippi Secretary of State on May 2, Gee clinched the nomination with 62.9% of the vote, receiving a grand total of 100 ballots. Beal received 59 votes, or 37.1%.
Kyle Kirkpatrick, assistant secretary of state for the MSOS' elections division, sent the official runoff results to the Clarion Ledger Thursday morning.
If that voter turnout is any preview of the June 3 general election, Gee might need a miracle. He will be up against heavy favorite Sen. John Horhn, who earned 18,593 votes in the Democratic runoff election. Not to mention that Jackson has not elected a Republican mayor in decades.
Besides Horhn, Gee will also face four independent candidates vying to become mayor: Rodney DePriest, Zach Servis, Lillie Stewart-Robinson and Kim Wade.
Among Jackson's 80 voting precincts, Precinct 44, which is New Jerusalem Church located in Northeast Jackson, saw the most amount of Republican ballots cast: 18 in total. Twelve of those Republican votes went to Gee, six went to Beal. For comparison, the Democratic runoff saw a total of 472 votes cast at Precinct 44: 356 for Horhn, 116 for incumbent Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba who was attempting to secure his third term in office.
Precinct 35, which is Spann Elementary School, saw the second-most Republican ballots cast: 17 in total. Gee again was the victor at that precinct, receiving 13 votes compared to Beal's four. But a majority of Jackson's 80 precincts saw zero Republican ballots cast, while others saw only one to three cast on average.
Gee, 38, is a graduate from Bailey Magnet High School and is currently attending Rasmussen University. He has worked as a law enforcement officer and has two sons, who are twins. Gee has never served as an elected official.
Gee told the Clarion Ledger in March that his campaign is focused on improving Jackson's public safety, prioritizing affordable housing across the city, as well as implementing more mental health services in schools and community centers. Part of his focus also includes "revitalizing parks, libraries, and public spaces to create safe and inviting gathering places."
More information on Gee's plans if he is elected mayor can be found on the Clarion Ledger's website.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson MS Republican mayoral runoff election official results
