The Ballot Brief
Forrest County, Mississippi

Chancery Court Judge, District 13, Place 2

3 candidates are tracked for Chancery Court Judge, District 13, Place 2, headed to a November 3, 2026 runoff: George Schmidt, John D. Smallwood and Zachary Monroe Vaughn. Candidate information follows official Forrest County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

George Schmidt, John D. Smallwood and Zachary Monroe Vaughn are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for this seat. Voters across the 13th Chancery Court District (Forrest, Perry, Stone) vote on this seat. Mississippi judicial races 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. Listed from the Secretary of State's official sample ballot.

What this office does

Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.

This race. Nonpartisan: candidates appear without party labels.

Mississippi › Forrest County › Chancery Court Judge, District 13, Place 2

George Schmidt

Nonpartisan

Biography

George Schmidt has owned Schmidt Law Firm, PLLC since 1994 and has served as Municipal Court Judge for the City of Purvis since 2011, per his campaign site. He previously served as a municipal judge for Hattiesburg and Lumberton and served in the Mississippi Army National Guard, including as a Judge Advocate, per his campaign site. He holds a B.B.A. and a J.D. from the University of Mississippi, and founded the Hattiesburg Mental Health Court and Hattiesburg Environmental Court, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

John D. Smallwood

Nonpartisan

Biography

John D. Smallwood is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Chancery Court, Chancery District 13 Place 2, per the Mississippi Secretary of State's official sample ballot. No campaign website was found as of September 17, 2026.

Zachary Monroe Vaughn

Nonpartisan

Biography

Zachary Monroe Vaughn is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Chancery Court, Chancery District 13 Place 2, per the Mississippi Secretary of State's official sample ballot. No campaign website was found as of September 17, 2026.

Next on your ballotCircuit Court Judge, District 12, Place 1

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Chancery Court Judge, District 13, Place 2 in 2026?

3 candidates are tracked for Chancery Court Judge, District 13, Place 2, headed to a November 3, 2026 runoff: George Schmidt, John D. Smallwood and Zachary Monroe Vaughn. Candidate information follows official Forrest County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Chancery Court Judge, District 13, Place 2 election in Mississippi?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Mississippi are on the Mississippi election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Forrest County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Forrest County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Mississippi election office, or see the full Forrest County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Forrest County ballot

4 tracked races in Forrest County, Mississippi. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Circuit Court Judge, District 12, Place 2Chancery Court Judge, District 13, Place 1See all 4 Forrest County races
Candidate profiles
George Schmidt, full profileJohn D. Smallwood, full profileZachary Monroe Vaughn, full profileOfficial Mississippi election office