Democrat Scott Colom makes history in Mississippi, first Black senator elected in more than 140 years
Democrat Scott Colom has won the US Senate election in Mississippi. The Associated Press projected him the winner on Wednesday, defeating incumbent Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith.
With 99% of the expected vote reported, Colom leads with 49.2% and Hyde-Smith has 48.7%, with Colom ahead by about 4,700 votes.
Colom's win makes him the first Black senator elected from Mississippi since 1875, and the first Democrat elected to the Senate from the state since 1982.
The margin was so close that the race could not be called until more than a week after election day, as officials counted outstanding absentee ballots and affidavit, or provisional, ballots. It was described as the closest Senate race in the country.
Colom's win is the eighth Senate pickup for Democrats, with the race in Alaska yet to be decided. By another count in the reports, the result means the Democratic majority in the Senate is now 55 seats.
Mississippi has long been a Republican stronghold. President Donald Trump won the state by more than 22 points in the 2024 presidential election. The Cook Political Report had rated the race as Likely Republican going into election night.
Colom is a district attorney for four counties along the Mississippi-Alabama state line. In 2015 he unseated a nearly 30-year incumbent to become the first Black district attorney for the 16th circuit, where he had a 94% success rate for convictions. He is a seventh-generation Mississippian.
President Joe Biden had earlier nominated Colom to become a US district judge in the northern district of Mississippi. In 2023 Hyde-Smith blocked his confirmation hearing. Colom has said he has forgiven her for doing so.
His campaign was initially seen as a long shot. Late in the race, former President Bill Clinton, former Vice President Kamala Harris, Cory Booker and Pete Buttigieg all appeared for Colom. President Donald Trump rallied for Hyde-Smith in October.
Colom made the cost of living a centrepiece of his campaign. A campaign video mocking Hyde-Smith's comment about choosing other proteins because of high beef prices went viral; its message was to pick another senator instead. He also drove a 'pick your protein' taco truck, giving free tacos to voters.
Mississippi has the highest share of Black voters in the country, at close to 40%. Reports pointed to a surge of Black voter turnout as a factor in the shifting political landscape across the South in this race.
After election day, both campaigns indicated they were ready for potential litigation, particularly over provisional ballots that both sides estimated could number in the thousands. Mississippi has no automatic recount law; a recount can only happen if ordered by a court.
On election night Hyde-Smith said: "I assure you, I will continue to be your US senator." Asked about the comments at a press conference the next day, Colom replied: "Bless her heart."
