Democrat Scott Colom has won the United States Senate race in Mississippi, securing a narrow victory over incumbent Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith. The result, which follows the November 3 midterm elections, marks a significant political shift in a state that has been a reliable Republican stronghold for decades. According to CBS figures reported by the BBC, Colom secured 49.2% of the vote, while Hyde-Smith received 48.7%, with an independent candidate capturing 2.1%.
The outcome was not determined until more than a week after election day, as officials processed over 100,000 mail-in ballots and confirmed the eligibility of thousands of provisional votes. This victory makes Colom the first Black person elected to the US Senate from Mississippi in over 140 years, and the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in the state since 1982. He is scheduled to be sworn in next January.
The race had attracted significant attention given Mississippi’s recent political history; President Donald Trump won the state by more than 22 points in the 2024 presidential election. Throughout the protracted counting period, the two candidates adopted different approaches. While Colom held public events and urged his opponent to address the status of the race, Hyde-Smith largely remained out of the public eye until returning to Washington this week for the reconvening of the Senate. Her team had previously stated their confidence that she would prevail once all legal votes were counted.
The relationship between the two candidates has been marked by prior political friction. In 2023, Hyde-Smith blocked Colom from serving as a federal judge after he was nominated by then-President Joe Biden, citing concerns regarding his position on transgender athletes.
Key facts
- Scott Colom won with 49.2% of the vote compared to Cindy Hyde-Smith’s 48.7%.
- This is the first time a Democrat has won a Senate race in Mississippi since 1982.
- The race was delayed for over a week due to the counting of more than 100,000 mail-in ballots.
- Colom is the first Black senator elected from Mississippi in over 140 years.
- Democrats have flipped at least eight Republican-held Senate seats in the recent midterms.
Why it matters
The Democratic party has achieved a 55-seat majority in the US Senate following their success in these midterm elections. While the results in Mississippi have been settled, a final Senate race in Alaska remains undecided. The broader midterm results have reportedly sparked concerns in Israel regarding potential changes in US diplomatic ties.
Background
Colom has publicly advocated for raising the minimum wage, increasing protections for rural hospitals, and ending the US war in Iran, which has been identified by polls as a factor in voter sentiment during these elections.
Source: Al Jazeera, BBC
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