Barfield announces campaign for state senate seat

Last updated: September 23, 2026

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) —  Warren County Board of Supervisors President Kelle Barfield today announced her candidacy for Mississippi State Senate District 23 in the 2027 Republican primary.

Barfield has spent her career building stronger communities in the private sector, through civic leadership and now in public office. She has represented District 5 on the Warren County Board of Supervisors since 2020, and her fellow supervisors have selected her to serve as board president every year since 2022.

“I am running for the State Senate because District 23 deserves a proven conservative leader who knows how to bring people together, manage taxpayer dollars responsibly and deliver real results,” Barfield said. “I will work to grow our economy, strengthen our schools, support Mississippi’s working families and ensure our communities have a strong voice at the Capitol.”

When asked about her personal commitment to the campaign, Barfield added that while she is already honored to have received contributions to her campaign fund, she is willing to commit up to $250,000 of her own funds to the race. “It’s important for donors to know that I am willing and able to give 100 percent to the office of senator as well as to earning the right to represent them. The campaign will be an important way to introduce myself, my skills and my values to voters.”

During Barfield’s tenure, Warren County has announced more than $5 billion in economic development projects while returning county millage to levels equivalent to 2020.

“Warren County leaders have shown that responsible budgeting and economic growth can go hand in hand,” Barfield said. “Taxpayers deserve leaders who respect their tax dollars, carefully manage government spending and remain focused on measurable results for our families and communities.”

Barfield has also played an active role in improving educational and career opportunities for local students. She served eight years on the Mississippi Commission on School Accreditation and co-chaired the steering committee that helped transform Vicksburg-Warren high schools into college and career academies, currently serving on its executive committee. Over the course of that effort, the school district’s four-year graduation rate has increased from 69 percent to 91 percent.

“Every Mississippi student deserves an education that prepares them for what comes next, whether that is college, technical training, military service or a career,” Barfield said. “Our local employers and community members must work closely with schools so students can graduate with the skills they need to build successful lives here at home.”

A small-business owner and longtime advocate for downtown development, Barfield owns Lorelei Books and has invested in restoring historic buildings in downtown Vicksburg. As president of the Mississippi Main Street Association, she led a board that worked with the Mississippi Development Authority to secure $10 million in funding for downtown revitalization grants approved by the Mississippi Legislature.

“Strong communities begin with thriving Main Streets, successful small businesses and local leaders willing to invest in our hometowns,” Barfield said. “When we restore a building, support a local entrepreneur, or fill a vacant storefront with commerce, we are investing in the future of the entire community.”

Barfield also brings decades of experience in the energy industry. During her career with Entergy, she led various communication and public affairs initiatives across the company’s four-state utility service territory of Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas along with merchant nuclear operations in several northern U.S. states. 

She currently supports international nuclear energy initiatives as a subject matter expert in stakeholder engagement for the U.S. Department of State and the International Atomic Energy Agency. In 2025, she was named to the Fulbright Specialist roster in nuclear stakeholder engagement.

“My work takes me around the world, but its purpose always remains close to home: advancing U.S. civilization nuclear expertise to create good jobs and ensure our workers are recognized as leaders in the global economy,” Barfield said. “Mississippi has the workforce, natural resources and energy expertise to forge the next generation of American economic growth.”

Barfield said her campaign will focus on expanding economic opportunity, strengthening workforce development, supporting local schools, protecting taxpayers and ensuring Mississippi remains a competitive place to start a business, rear a family and retire.

“This campaign is about practical, conservative leadership and a record voters have seen firsthand,” Barfield said. “I will bring the same approach to the State Senate that I have brought to county government, business and community service: listen carefully, identify resources to solve problems and always put Mississippi first.”

About Kelle Barfield

Dr. Kelle Barfield is a business owner, economic development advocate and two-term Warren County supervisor. She has served as president of the Warren County Board of Supervisors since 2022 and as president of the Mississippi Main Street Association during its 2025–2026 term. Barfield owns Lorelei Books and Delta Warren Properties in Vicksburg. She holds degrees from the University of Texas, Syracuse University, the London School of Economics and Political Science and the University of Southern California. She is a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church in Vicksburg.