Mississippi News Group is projecting Democratic challenger Scott Colom to win the U.S. Senate race in Mississippi, defeating Republican incumbent Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith.
With 99% of the vote counted, Colom leads Hyde-Smith by about 4,400 votes — a margin that has grown with each new batch of affidavit ballots counted.
Election officials in Hinds and Madison counties verified provisional and mail-in absentee ballots on Wednesday, and the affidavit ballots counted so far have broken heavily for Colom. With the remaining uncounted ballots too few to erase the gap, Mississippi News Group sees no viable path for Hyde-Smith to close it.
If the result holds, Colom will become the first African American to represent Mississippi in the U.S. Senate since Reconstruction. Hiram Revels served in 1870-71 and Blanche K. Bruce in 1875-81; no Black Mississippian has held one of the state’s Senate seats since.
Colom’s victory would also mark the first time a Democrat has won a U.S. Senate race in Mississippi since 1982. Independent Ty Pinkins finished a distant third with about 2.1% of the vote.
The Associated Press has not called the race, and results remain unofficial until counties certify them. Counties must submit certified results to the Secretary of State by Friday, Nov. 13.
