Democrat Scott Colom leads Cindy Hyde-Smith in close Mississippi Senate race

UPDATE - follow-up to Mississippi Senate race leans Democratic; Colom holds narrow lead: Democrat Scott Colom leads Republican incumbent Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith by over 3,700 votes in the uncalled Mississippi Senate midterm race.

Vote Counting

Secretary of State Michael Watson reported that mail and affidavit ballots are still being processed across the state's 82 counties. Mail ballots must arrive within five business days, while affidavit ballots must be processed within the 10-day certification window ending November 13. Mississippi law does not allow recounts, meaning the winner will be decided by a plurality of votes.

Campaign Reactions

Both parties have deployed legal teams to monitor the ongoing count. The National Republican Senatorial Committee and Hyde-Smith filed a request for counties to preserve all affidavit ballots, which the Colom campaign termed a desperate stunt. Hyde-Smith expressed confidence that remaining votes from Republican counties will secure her victory, while Colom told reporters he is confident the state has decided to go in a new direction.

Context

This contest stands out because Mississippi has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1982, and President Trump won the state by 20 points in 2024. The outcome in this deep-red state could further increase the majority Democrats have already secured in the Senate.