NATCHEZ — Incumbent Adams County Justice Court Judge for the Northern District Patricia Dunmore withdrew her candidacy for the office effective Thursday.

“I am writing to advise the commission that effective today, Aug. 15, 2019, I have discontinued my campaign for Adams County Justice Court Judge, Northern District,” Dunmore wrote in a hand-delivered letter to the Adams County Election Commission.

Dunmore garnered enough votes in the Aug. 6 primary to be in the Aug. 27 runoff with Democratic challenger Audrey B. Minor but said she decided to step down because she is planning to retire.

“I would like to thank the voters for having me for almost 12 years,” Dunmore said. “I’d like to thank them for the vote the other day and how they have supported me and I’ve enjoyed serving as their Justice Court Judge for the Northern district.”

Dunmore had been on a leave of absence since May due to an undisclosed illness and had been hopeful she would be able to return to work.

In the Aug. 6 primary Minor got 2,007 votes, or 47.6% of the vote, to Dunmore’s 1,479 votes, or 35.11% of the vote.

Now that Dunmore has pulled out, Adams County Election Commission member Larry Gardner said the third candidate in the race, Eddie Jones, also a Democrat who got 721 votes in the primary, will be in the Aug. 27 runoff with Minor.

The winner of the Aug. 27 runoff will win the seat as no independent or Republican challengers ran for the seat.