Democrat Scott Colom Wins Mississippi Senate Race, Becomes State's First Black Senator Since Reconstruction
Colom won after several days of ballot counting, and his victory gives Democrats a 55-seat Senate majority, according to projections.
- Democratic challenger Scott Colom, a local district attorney, has defeated incumbent Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in a historic upset following over a week of vote counting.
- With this victory, Colom becomes Mississippi's first Black U.S. senator since the post-Civil War Reconstruction era in 1874 and the first Democrat elected to represent the state in the Senate since 1982.
- The race was officially called on Wednesday after final batches of affidavit and absentee ballots—including key tallies from Hinds and Jackson counties—solidified Colom's narrow lead.
- Colom's win delivers Democrats their eighth flipped Senate seat of the 2026 midterm cycle, further expanding their newly captured Senate majority.
458 Articles
458 Articles
The Democrats have prevailed against the Republicans for the first time since 1982. Scott Colom will be the first black senator since the end of the 19th century.
The decline continues for the Republicans, who have now also lost the conservative stronghold of Mississippi.
With the victory in Mississippi, where the “black” population represents 37% of the population, Democrats add up to eight seats taken from Republicans
US Democrat Scott Colom won a historic surprise Senate seat in the traditionally conservative state of Mississippi after more than a week of counting votes following the midterm elections held on November 3. Colom became the first African-American to be elected to the Senate from the southern state in more than 140 years.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 47% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
