Democrat Scott Colom wins Mississippi Senate race
Democrat Scott Colom has won a narrow victory in the Mississippi U.S. Senate race, defeating Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith. The win is attributed to a significant surge in Black voter turnout and a focus on cost-of-living issues.
Why it matters
This result marks a historic shift in Mississippi politics, as it is the first time in decades the state has elected a Democrat to the Senate.
Democrat Scott Colom has won election to the U.S. Senate from Mississippi, according to a race call by the Associated Press, narrowly defeating Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith.
After more than a week of counting outstanding, absentee ballots and affidavit — or provisional — ballots, Colom won the closest Senate race in the country by just a few thousand votes.
In a midterm full of stunning upsets for Democrats, Colom's victory underscores a dramatic shift in the political landscape across the South driven by a surge of Black voter turnout.
Mississippi has the highest share of Black voters in the country, at close to 40%, but President Trump won the state by 23 points in 2024. Mississippi hasn't elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in more than 40 years and hasn't sent a Black senator to Washington since Reconstruction.
Also covering this story
4 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Democrat Scott Colom becomes Mississippi's first Black senator since 1874
How Scott Colom defied Democratic doubters to make Mississippi a battleground
In Mississippi, voters await cliffhanger Senate result with hope and frustration
Mississippi Senate: Scott Colom extends tight lead over Hyde-Smith as ballot deadlines hit - CNBC
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