Mississippi Senate race hangs on narrow lead as count nears deadline

Mississippi’s Senate contest remains undecided a week after the US mid‑term elections, with Democrat Scott Colom holding a lead of about 2,500 votes – less than 1 % – over incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde‑Smith, according to the latest tally.

If Colom wins, he would become the state’s first black senator in over 140 years and give the Democratic Senate majority‑elect a cushion of 55 seats, pending the outcome of a close race in Alaska.

State law requires certification of the result by Friday, but thousands of postal and affidavit ballots are still to be counted. Officials estimate that between 12,000 and 20,000 affidavit ballots were cast; about 15,500 have been processed so far, a number that could swing the result.

The race defies the conservative trend of the Magnolia State, which President Donald Trump carried by more than 22 points in 2024. Both parties have deployed legal teams, raising the prospect of challenges once the count is complete.

Local reactions

At Jackson State University, a historically black college, students reported voting for Colom and expressed hope for change. In Brookhaven, Lincoln County – the birthplace of Hyde‑Smith and a strong Trump‑supporting area – voters cited high living costs but largely blamed broader economic factors rather than any single politician.

Source: BBC News. Photo: Sora Shimazaki / Pexels.