Story
Trending

Democrat Scott Colom Wins Mississippi Senate Seat in Historic Upset

Politics · First reported 11 Nov, 22:39 · Updated 23:25

Image: Financial Times

Democrat Scott Colom has defeated incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi's U.S. Senate race following a prolonged count of absentee and affidavit ballots. Colom becomes the state's first Black U.S. senator since the Reconstruction era and expands the Democratic Senate majority to 55 seats.

  • Scott Colom narrowly defeated incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith by less than 5,000 votes, or about 0.5 percentage points, following days of processing absentee and affidavit ballots.
  • Colom becomes Mississippi's first Black U.S. senator since Blanche Bruce was elected in 1874 during post-Civil War Reconstruction.
  • The outcome gives Democrats a 55-44 majority in the Senate as they also secure control of the House of Representatives, with the Alaska Senate race still undecided.
  • Hyde-Smith conceded the election in a video posted on social media and congratulated Colom.
  • Donald Trump won Mississippi by nearly 23 percentage points in 2024 and campaigned for Hyde-Smith in Corinth in late October.
Summary written by Sumzly from 6 articles

Key facts

Winner
Scott Colom (Democrat)
Incumbent Defeated
Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican)
Vote Margin
Approximately 0.5 percentage points (less than 5,000 votes)
Historical Precedent
First Black Mississippi senator since Blanche Bruce in 1874
New Senate Balance
55 Democrats to 44 Republicans (Alaska uncalled)

Source spectrum

Far left
Left
Lean left
Centre
Lean right
Right
Far right

Left 10 · Centre 10 · Right 5 of 25 rated sources

Images from the coverage

Image: Financial Times
Image: Dawn
Image: Hindustan Times
Image: The New York Times
Image: The Hill
Image: The Hindu
Image: CNA
Image: The Guardian

All coverage

Coverage over time

048121622000204060810
LeftCentreRight

Articles per hour since first reported, by side.

Ownership

  • Corporation 52% (13)
  • Non-profit 12% (3)
  • Billionaire 12% (3)
  • Public broadcaster 12% (3)
  • Government 8% (2)
  • Independent 4% (1)

Share of the 25 sources by owner type.