NATCHEZ — It’s official — Jake Middleton has been elected as the Democratic candidate in the mayoral race.

After a full day of paper ballot counting at the Adams County Courthouse Wednesday and a speedy verification process Thursday morning, Middleton received 51.88 percent of the vote to incumbent Mayor Phillip West’s 47.95 percent.

Middleton received 2,719 votes compared to West’s 2,513.

Middleton will now face Independent Chick Graning in the June 3 general election.

Now that paper ballot counting and its verification is complete, absentee voting has begun for the May 20 run-off.

The only run-off is in Ward 5, between Mark Fortenbery, who received 404 votes, and Frances Thompson Bailey, who received 331 votes.

That gave Fortenbery 48.91 percent of the vote, while Bailey received 40.07 percent of the vote.

Whoever wins the Democratic nomination will face Republican Charles Zucarro in the general election.