Scott Colom Wins Historic U.S. Senate Seat in Mississippi
Democrat Scott Colom defeated Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith to become the first Black U.S. senator from Mississippi since the Reconstruction era.
Democratic candidate Scott Colom defeated Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith in a narrow race for a United States Senate seat in Mississippi. The Associated Press called the race on November 12, 2026, with Colom winning 49.2% of the vote to Hyde-Smith's 48.7%, a margin of approximately 4,669 votes. Colom becomes the first Black senator elected from the state since the Reconstruction era and the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in Mississippi since 1982.
The victory followed a prolonged counting process involving thousands of affidavit and absentee ballots. While Hyde-Smith initially expressed confidence and urged officials to keep counting, she eventually conceded the race via a social media video and a phone call to Colom. The race was personally charged, as Hyde-Smith had previously blocked Colom's nomination for a federal judgeship.
Colom's campaign focused on economic issues, including healthcare and the cost of living. He gained significant momentum through a viral advertisement mocking Hyde-Smith's suggestion that voters facing high beef prices should pick another protein. His victory was supported by a coalition of Black voters and white voters frustrated with inflation and tariffs.
President Donald Trump, who campaigned for Hyde-Smith, later praised Colom's courage for campaigning among Republican supporters at a Trump rally in Corinth. The result expands the Democratic Senate majority to 55 seats, contributing to a broader midterm shift in the American South.
