NATCHEZ — Though the absentee ballots in Ward 6 remain to be counted, it is mathematically impossible for Phillip West to catch Jake Middleton in the mayor’s race.

Absentee ballots have been counted in Wards 1 through 5 and the vote count stands at 2,485 for West and 2,674 for Middleton.

Middleton leads by 189 votes. Ward 6 only has 49 absentee ballots.

Members of the Democratic party are continuing to count the ballots at the Adams County Courthouse.