MS Supreme Court surprise: Gulfport lawyer leads incumbent. Court of Appeals runoff ahead

Gulfport attorney David P. Sullivan appears to have defeated incumbent Dawn H. Beam in a nonpartisan race for the Mississippi Supreme Court, although the race had not been called by 10:50 p.m.

At that hour, with 92% of the vote counted, Sullivan led with 182,944 votes, or 54.7%, to 151,469 votes, or 45.3%, for Beam.

Sullivan has practiced law for 30 years in South Mississippi and is with the Sullivan Law Firm in Gulfport. He has served since 2019 as municipal judge for the city of D'Iberville. He previously served as a city prosecutor for Gulfport and is a public defender for Harrison, Stone and Hancock County circuit courts.

Sullivan's father, the late Michael D. Sullivan, also served on the Supreme Court and inspired his son in his legal career, David Sullivan has said.

Beam, who is from Sumrall, was appointed in 2016 to the nine-member court by Former Gov. Phil Bryant.

Both Supreme Court justices and Court of Appeals judges serve eight-year terms.

Court of Appeals runoff likely

Vote totals were close all night for three South Mississippi candidates vying for the Court of Appeals, District 5, Position 2.

The top two candidates appear to be headed for a runoff Nov. 26.

With 92% of votes counted, attorney Amy Lassitter St. Pé of Pascagoula led with 74,517 votes, or 35.1%, followed by Chancery Court Judge Jennifer T. Schloegel of Gulfport with 69,154 votes, or 32.6%. Assistant District Attorney Ian Baker of Gulfport trailed with 68,660 votes, or 32.3%.

South Mississippi's ballot featured a competitive race for the state Court of Appeals because incumbent Joel Smith, a former district attorney, chose not to seek re-election.

St. Pé graduated from Mississippi College law school and has practiced law for 22 yearsz. She founded her own law firm in Pascagoula, specializing in governmental law. She has served for 15 years as a city attorney for Moss Point and is also a municipal judge for the city of Gautier.

Schloegel has served since 2011 as a Chancery Court judge for Harrison, Hancock and Stone counties. She graduated from University of Mississippi law school and also attended Emory University law school in Atlanta.

Baker graduated from Mississippi College law school and has stressed his 18 years of courtroom experience, serving for the past 11 years as a prosecutor in the district attorney's office for Harrison, Hancock and Stone counties.