Misty Miller successfully retained her District Court judgeship Tuesday, earning her way to four more years on the bench by defeating her opponent J. Nick Payne by roughly 900 votes.
Miller garnered 20,710 votes (51.15%) and will continue to serve in the 6th Judicial District, 1st Division. Payne earned 19,778 (48.85%).
Miller said she was thrilled to have the chance to continue serving her community.
“I was elated,” Miller said of the win. “I was happy to be the pick. I love the job. As corny as it might sound, that’s my home.”
In the 2018 election, Miller was narrowly defeated by then-incumbent Nick Burlew for the position. However, she earned 46% of the vote and continued to push forward despite the loss.
In March 2020, Miller was appointed to the vacant District Court judgeship position. That appointment gave Miller seven months to learn the ins and outs of the role before winning the 2020 election.
“To have seven months of experience under my belt — that’s really great,” she said. “I feel very comfortable with it now.”
Miller commended her election team and those in her corner who volunteered their time to help secure her win. Some people made signs, some sent emails out, and some campaigned door-to-door to help get the word out.
“You cannot do it alone,” Miller said. “Certainly, in this election, every vote counts. I’m deeply grateful to those who took the time out to help me, even when it didn’t directly [benefit them].”
Instead of holding a huge gathering, Miller watched the election with her parents and a couple of close friends by her side. She said the support from her family made the night a memorable, high-spirited event.
“My mom has always been a big part of the campaign. She’s right in the thick of things,” Miller said. “I’ve had a ton of support and a lot of well-wishers along the way. That’s been very nice to know.”
Miller was already back on the bench Wednesday morning, but she will officially be sworn in as District Court judge within 20 days after the Daviess County Clerk’s Office completes their count of outstanding absentee ballots on Friday.
