In a historic upset, Democrat Scott Colom has defeated Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi's US Senate race, becoming the first Black senator from the Southern state since the end of the Reconstruction era following the U.S. Civil War. The victory marks a significant shift in a traditionally Republican stronghold and further strengthens the Democrats' position after the November 3 midterm elections. This is the first time Mississippi will send a Black representative to the Senate since former slave Blanche Bruce was elected in 1874.
In a state that voted for President Donald Trump by nearly 23 percentage points in the 2020 presidential election and where Trump personally campaigned for Hyde-Smith towards the end of the Senate race, Colom's victory is particularly significant. The Mississippi contest was among the last outstanding races from the November 3 elections to be called, with vote counting taking over a week and the race remaining extremely close until the final results were announced.
The 43-year-old district attorney also becomes the first Democrat to win a Mississippi Senate seat since John Stennis in 1982. The Democrats' advantage in Congress further expands following their sweeping gains in the midterm elections, with the Mississippi result giving them a 55-44 advantage in the 100-member Senate, and a 254-168 advantage in the House of Representatives. This loss of both chambers leaves Trump facing a Democratic-controlled Congress for the first time during either of his presidential terms.
In a surprising turn of events, Democrat Scott Colom has won the US Senate race in Mississippi, defeating Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith. This victory marks a historical milestone as Colom becomes the first Black senator from Mississippi since the end of the Reconstruction era following the U.S. Civil War. The election result was announced after a week of vote counting and close competition between the two candidates.
The win comes in a state that has been traditionally Republican, with President Donald Trump winning Mississippi by nearly 23 percentage points in the 2020 presidential election and personally campaigning for Hyde-Smith towards the end of the Senate race. Despite Hyde-Smith leading in opinion polls throughout the campaign, Colom's focus on grassroots outreach and voter connection, along with support from fellow Democratic senators, seems to have tipped the scales in his favor.
The Democrats' advantage in Congress is further strengthened by this victory, following their sweeping gains in the midterm elections. With the Mississippi result, the Democrats now hold a 55-44 advantage in the 100-member Senate and a 254-168 advantage in the House of Representatives. This loss of both chambers leaves President Trump facing a Democratic-controlled Congress for the first time during either of his presidential terms.
In a significant shift, Democrat Scott Colom has triumphed over Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith in the US Senate race in Mississippi. Colom's victory marks a historical milestone as he becomes the first Black senator from Mississippi since the end of the Reconstruction era following the U.S. Civil War. The election result was announced after a week of close competition between the two candidates, making it one of the last outstanding races from the November 3 elections to be called.
The win comes in a state that has been traditionally Republican, with President Donald Trump winning Mississippi by nearly 23 percentage points in the 2020 presidential election and personally campaigning for Hyde-Smith towards the end of the Senate race. Despite this, Colom's focus on grassroots outreach and voter connection, along with support from fellow Democratic senators, seems to have tipped the scales in his favor.
The Democrats' advantage in Congress is further strengthened by this victory, following their sweeping gains in the midterm elections. With the Mississippi result, the Democrats now hold a 55-44 advantage in the 100-member Senate and a 254-168 advantage in the House of Representatives. This loss of both chambers leaves President Trump facing a Democratic-controlled Congress for the first time during either of his presidential terms.