Mississippi and Alaska Senate Races Remain Too Close to Call
Democratic candidates hold narrow leads in contested U.S. Senate races in Mississippi and Alaska as officials process thousands of outstanding ballots.
U.S. Senate races in Mississippi and Alaska remain undecided following the 2026 midterm elections. In Mississippi, Scott Colom holds a narrow lead of approximately 2,000 to 2,574 votes over Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith. If elected, Colom would be the first Black senator from Mississippi since Reconstruction. The outcome is delayed by a high volume of affidavit ballots, with estimates of outstanding votes ranging from 15,000 to 30,000. Colom has criticized the state's use of consumer data from Experian to maintain voter rolls, which he suggests led to erroneous voter purges.
Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson defended the state's registration processes as necessary for election integrity. While Hyde-Smith stated her team is monitoring ballots to protect the process, Colom asserted that voters have chosen a new direction. Because Mississippi law provides no mechanism for automatic recounts, any challenges would require county-by-county court orders or a petition to the U.S. Senate. Certified results are expected by November 13.
In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola leads Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan by over 600 votes. Approximately 60,000 ballots remain uncounted due to the state's vast geography and absentee voting laws. Final results may not be determined until November 18, when the state will perform ranked-choice tabulation if no candidate secures more than 50% of the first-choice votes. Final certification is targeted for November 25.
