Democrat Scott Colom wins U.S. Senate race in Mississippi

Democrat Scott Colom defeated incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde‑Smith in the United States Senate race for Mississippi on Wednesday, a result announced at the NAACP headquarters in Jackson. The announcement sparked loud applause from the assembled crowd.

The gathering at the Mississippi NAACP office erupted in cheers as Leon Russell, chairman of the NAACP board, described the outcome as "an amazing result" and credited the black community’s organising despite limited funds. Across the room, Amber Thomas expressed her elation, saying, "When you fight, you win," and that she was "overwhelmed with joy."

Colom’s victory ends a Republican winning streak in the Magnolia State that stretched back to 1982 and makes him the first Black senator from Mississippi in more than 140 years. President Donald Trump had carried the state by just over 22 points in the 2024 presidential election, underscoring the upset.

The Democrat, a local prosecutor, campaigned across all 82 counties and highlighted his opponent’s support for Trump‑era tariffs, dubbing her "Cindy High Prices". Hyde‑Smith’s campaign portrayed Colom as a puppet of billionaire liberal donor George Soros, while also noting her limited public appearances during the race.

Election officials spent more than a week counting over 100,000 mail‑in ballots and verifying thousands of provisional votes before declaring the race too close to call. Hyde‑Smith’s team later expressed confidence that she would win once every legally cast vote was counted, whereas Colom demanded that the senator answer questions, stating, "Ultimately, at some point, the senator needs to speak out. Where is Cindy Hyde‑Smith?"

The win follows a wave of Democratic gains in the November 3 midterms, with the party flipping at least eight Senate seats held by Republicans. Colom, who has advocated for a higher minimum wage, stronger rural hospital protections and an end to the US‑Israel war on Iran, will be sworn in next January, joining a record seven Black senators in the 120th Congress.