Democrat Scott Colom wins Mississippi Senate seat, first Black senator since Reconstruction
Scott Colom has secured the U.S. Senate seat from Mississippi, defeating incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde‑Smith by a narrow margin of about 0.5 percentage point, roughly 4,600 votes. The Associated Press and major networks called the race on 11 Nov after nearly all ballots were counted. Colom, a 43‑year‑old former district attorney, becomes the state's first Black senator since the Reconstruction era. Democrats now hold 55 of the 100 Senate seats, with Republicans at 44 and the Alaska contest still undecided. Former President Bill Clinton and former Vice‑President Kamala Harris campaigned for Colom in the final weeks.
Key facts
- Colom's victory margin is 4,585 votes, with about 99 % of ballots counted.
- Hyde‑Smith, 67, has served since 2018.
- Democrats flipped eight Senate seats from Republicans in this election cycle.
- The Alaska Senate race remains undecided, leaving the final Senate composition pending.
- Democrats also hold a 254‑168 advantage in the House, with 13 races still uncalled.
Summarised with AI from 5 sources · Updated 10:41Read our AI policy
Why it matters
The win expands the Democratic majority in the Senate and marks a historic breakthrough in Mississippi politics.
What changed
Summary updated
First published from NRK, The Independent, NPR, Al Jazeera English and The Guardian