Democrat Scott Colom has won Mississippi’s US Senate race, defeating Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, after The Associated Press called the contest on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
The result flips a Republican-held seat in one of the most reliably Republican states in the country.
The story in 7 points
- The Associated Press called the race for Scott Colom on Nov. 11.
- Colom defeated incumbent Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith.
- With about 99% of the expected vote counted, Colom led 49.2% to 48.7%.
- His margin was roughly 4,700 votes.
- The win flips a Republican-held Senate seat to the Democrats.
- Colom will be Mississippi’s first Black US senator in more than 100 years, according to AP.
- The race was one of the closest Senate contests of the 2026 midterms.
The race took more than a week after Election Day to call because of the narrow margin. AP declared Colom the winner once it determined that the remaining uncounted ballots could not change the outcome.
Why it matters
A Democratic win in Mississippi is rare in modern politics, and the seat adds to the party’s gains in the 2026 midterms. Colom’s victory is also historic for representation in a state with one of the largest Black populations in the country.
Sources: ABC News / AP, NPR, Mississippi Today