DeSoto County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
16 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across 10 DeSoto County races, led by the Chancery Court Judge, 17th Chancery Court District, Place One contest.
Judges
Chancery Court Judge, 17th Chancery Court District, Place OneNonpartisan race · Vicki Daniels
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Vicki Daniels is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Chancery Court Judge, 17th Chancery Court District, Place One.
Vicki Daniels Nonpartisan
Vicki Daniels appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Chancery Court Judge, 17th Chancery Court District, Place One, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Vicki Daniels.
Nonpartisan judicial race on DeSoto County's official November 3, 2026 candidate listing; one candidate qualified.
Full race pageChancery Court Judge, 17th Chancery Court District, Place TwoNonpartisan race · Elizabeth "Beth" Owens · William "Ty" Scott
Elizabeth "Beth" Owens and William "Ty" Scott are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Chancery Court Judge, 17th Chancery Court District, Place Two.
Elizabeth "Beth" Owens Nonpartisan
- Bring her background in domestic relations, including divorce, custody, and estate matters, to the chancery bench
- Handle family court matters with what her site describes as compassion and integrity
Per the campaign site.
About Elizabeth "Beth" Owens
Owens is an attorney with 16 years of practice in DeSoto County, Mississippi, per her campaign site. She has served on the Wesley Meadows Board and the ARC of Northwest Mississippi, per her campaign site.
William "Ty" Scott Nonpartisan
- Draws on experience handling hundreds of family law, estate, guardianship and property-dispute cases
- Pledges to serve with what his site calls fairness, preparation and sound judgment
Per the campaign site.
About William "Ty" Scott
Scott is a private-practice attorney who has served as staff attorney to DeSoto County's Chancery Judges and as a Special Master conducting court hearings, per his campaign site. He is a Major in the Mississippi Army National Guard with nearly 20 years of service, including a combat deployment to Syria, per his campaign site.
Nonpartisan judicial race on DeSoto County's official November 3, 2026 candidate listing; two candidates qualified.
Full race pageChancery Court Judge, 17th Chancery Court District, Place Three (Subdistrict 17-1)Nonpartisan race · Gwendolyn Baptist · Malenda Harris Meacham
Gwendolyn Baptist and Malenda Harris Meacham are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Chancery Court Judge, 17th Chancery Court District, Place Three (Subdistrict 17-1).
Gwendolyn Baptist Nonpartisan
Gwendolyn Baptist appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Chancery Court Judge, 17th Chancery Court District, Place Three (Subdistrict 17-1), per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Gwendolyn Baptist.
Malenda Harris Meacham Nonpartisan
- Emphasizes her family-law experience and support for mental health recovery within the legal system
- Active with community support causes including House of Grace, a domestic violence support organization
Per the campaign site.
About Malenda Harris Meacham
Meacham is an attorney with 31 years of legal practice and 19 years of judicial service, including as Special Master in the DeSoto County Chancery Court, per her campaign site. She previously served as Hernando's first female city court judge and DeSoto County's first female Special Master, per her campaign site.
New subdistrict created by the state legislature within DeSoto County's chancery court district; appears only on ballots in the subdistrict's precincts, per Capital B News (Aug. 21, 2026). A federal judge denied an injunction seeking to cancel this race on August 13, 2026, per Capital B News. This contest is on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
Full race pageCircuit Court Judge, 21st Circuit Court District, Place OneNonpartisan race · Gordon Shaw Jr. · Joseph "Jody" Neyman
Gordon Shaw Jr. and Joseph "Jody" Neyman are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Circuit Court Judge, 21st Circuit Court District, Place One.
Gordon Shaw Jr. Nonpartisan
Shaw is an Assistant District Attorney for DeSoto County who has prosecuted felony cases since 2024, per DeSoto County News (Jan. 6, 2026). He previously spent eight years as Municipal Prosecutor for Horn Lake and has practiced law since 2008 after earning his degree from Mississippi College School of Law, per the same report. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Gordon Shaw Jr.
Joseph "Jody" Neyman Nonpartisan
- Emphasizes preparation, impartiality and respect for the Constitution in his approach to the bench
- States that parties who disagree with a ruling should still leave the courtroom knowing they were heard and received a fair trial
Per the campaign site.
About Joseph "Jody" Neyman
Neyman is a University of Mississippi and Ole Miss law school graduate with more than three decades of legal experience and more than two decades of judicial service, including as Municipal Judge for Southaven and Pro Tempore Municipal Judge for Hernando, per his campaign site. He currently serves on Mississippi's Board of Bar Admissions, per the same source.
Nonpartisan judicial race on DeSoto County's official November 3, 2026 candidate listing; two candidates qualified.
Full race pageCircuit Court Judge, 21st Circuit Court District, Place TwoNonpartisan race · Craig Treadway
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Craig Treadway is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Circuit Court Judge, 21st Circuit Court District, Place Two.
Craig Treadway Nonpartisan
Craig Treadway appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Circuit Court Judge, 21st Circuit Court District, Place Two, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Craig Treadway.
Nonpartisan judicial race on DeSoto County's official November 3, 2026 candidate listing; one candidate qualified.
Full race pageCircuit Court Judge, 21st Circuit Court District, Place Three (Subdistrict 21-1)Nonpartisan race · W. Douglas Hollowell III
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
W. Douglas Hollowell III is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Circuit Court Judge, 21st Circuit Court District, Place Three (Subdistrict 21-1).
W. Douglas Hollowell III Nonpartisan
W. Douglas Hollowell III appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Circuit Court Judge, 21st Circuit Court District, Place Three (Subdistrict 21-1), per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for W. Douglas Hollowell III.
New subdistrict created by the state legislature within DeSoto County's circuit court district; appears only on ballots in the subdistrict's precincts, per Capital B News (Aug. 21, 2026). One candidate qualified. This contest is on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
Full race pageCircuit Court Judge, 21st Circuit Court District, Place Four (Subdistrict 21-1)Nonpartisan race · Lucius Edwards · John Hughes
Lucius Edwards and John Hughes are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Circuit Court Judge, 21st Circuit Court District, Place Four (Subdistrict 21-1).
Lucius Edwards Nonpartisan
Lucius Edwards appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Circuit Court Judge, 21st Circuit Court District, Place Four (Subdistrict 21-1), per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Lucius Edwards.
John Hughes Nonpartisan
- Pledges to be fair, firm and committed to protecting local communities
- Emphasizes delivering justice with integrity, transparency and respect for the law
Per the campaign site.
About John Hughes
Hughes is a solo attorney and owner of Hughes Law Firm in DeSoto County, with 23 years of legal practice in bankruptcy, family law, personal injury and criminal matters, per the campaign site. He has represented individuals and families in Circuit, Chancery, Bankruptcy and Justice Courts, per the campaign site.
New subdistrict created by the state legislature within DeSoto County's circuit court district; appears only on ballots in the subdistrict's precincts, per Capital B News (Aug. 21, 2026). Two candidates qualified. This contest is on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
Full race pageMississippi Court of Appeals, District 1, Position 1 (special election)Nonpartisan race · John Weddle · Derek Dewayne Hopson Jr.
John Weddle and Derek Dewayne Hopson Jr. are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Mississippi Court of Appeals, District 1, Position 1 (special election).
John Weddle Nonpartisan Incumbent
Weddle was appointed to the Mississippi Court of Appeals by Gov. Tate Reeves, with his term beginning October 14, 2024, per the Governor's official announcement. He previously served as District Attorney for the First Circuit Court Judicial District since 2015, as Public Defender for Lee County, and as Municipal Court Judge for Tupelo, and has practiced law since 1995, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for John Weddle.
Derek Dewayne Hopson Jr. Nonpartisan
Derek Dewayne Hopson Jr. appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Mississippi Court of Appeals, District 1, Position 1 (special election), per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Derek Dewayne Hopson Jr.
Special election for the remainder of an eight-year term, called after Gov. Tate Reeves appointed John Weddle to the seat effective October 14, 2024, per the Governor's official announcement. DeSoto County is within Court of Appeals District 1 and this race appears on the county's own official November 3, 2026 candidate listing.
Full race pageMississippi Court of Appeals, District 1, Position 2Nonpartisan race · Donna M. Barnes
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Donna M. Barnes is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Mississippi Court of Appeals, District 1, Position 2.
Donna M. Barnes Nonpartisan
Donna M. Barnes appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Mississippi Court of Appeals, District 1, Position 2, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Donna M. Barnes.
Nonpartisan judicial race on DeSoto County's official November 3, 2026 candidate listing; one candidate qualified.
Full race pageCounty Court JudgeNonpartisan race · Allen Couch · H. "Craig" Treadway
Allen Couch and H. "Craig" Treadway are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for DeSoto County Court Judge.
Allen Couch Nonpartisan
Allen Couch appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for DeSoto County Court Judge, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Allen Couch.
H. "Craig" Treadway Nonpartisan
H. "Craig" Treadway appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for DeSoto County Court Judge, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for H. "Craig" Treadway.
DeSoto County's official candidate listing shows two countywide County Court Judge positions with one qualified candidate apiece. This contest is on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
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Mississippi's November 3, 2026 ballot is a federal and judicial ballot: U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Court of Appeals, and every circuit and chancery judgeship under the district lines the Legislature drew in 2025. Party nominees for the federal races were chosen at the March 10 primary. Judicial races and special elections are nonpartisan; if nobody wins a majority, the top two meet in a runoff on December 1, 2026, per the Secretary of State's 2026 elections calendar. Unopposed candidates still appear on the ballot. Mississippi elects county officers, legislators and statewide officials in odd-numbered years (next in 2027). The field is the Secretary of State's official sample ballot dated September 9, 2026.
Who is on the ballot in DeSoto County, Mississippi on November 3, 2026?
DeSoto County sample ballot 2026: who is running for court judge and chancery court judge, with bios, priorities and campaign sites. Every candidate profile on this page names the official filing or campaign source it came from.
When is the 2026 general election in Mississippi?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Mississippi are listed on the Mississippi election hub. Mississippi election hub →
How do I see my exact DeSoto County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup for the statewide and congressional races on every ballot in the county, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location. Look up your ballot →
Mississippi statewide racesEvery Mississippi race on this county's ballot.Candidate roster last updated Oct 1, 2026 from official election sources.