Democrat Scott Colom Wins Mississippi Senate Race, Defeating Cindy Hyde-Smith in Historic Upset

Democrat Scott Colom has defeated Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi's U.S. Senate race, the Associated Press called Wednesday evening, completing one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 midterm elections and making history in a state that had not sent a Democrat to the Senate in 44 years.

The Associated Press called the race at 5:58 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, November 11, after eight days of counting absentee and provisional ballots. NBC News and CNN's Decision Desk separately projected Colom as the winner, and Reuters reported that Hyde-Smith had lost her reelection bid. Hyde-Smith conceded in a video message on Wednesday evening, shortly after the AP's call.

A race that took eight days to call

The contest was the closest Senate race in the country. Colom led by just 43 votes after the final election-night update, which came in from Pike County at 3:03 a.m. Eastern on November 4. His lead grew steadily as counties processed outstanding absentee and affidavit ballots, reaching 4,669 votes by Wednesday evening.

With about 99 percent of precincts reporting, the unofficial totals stood at 473,336 votes (49.2 percent) for Colom, 468,667 votes (48.7 percent) for Hyde-Smith, and 20,234 votes (2.1 percent) for independent candidate Ty Pinkins. The AP said the decisive update came from Jackson County, a Republican-leaning area where Hyde-Smith needed a strong performance to close the gap.

On November 7, the AP had said the contest remained too early to call as counting continued across Mississippi's 82 counties. Lawyers and observers from both parties had descended on the state to monitor the count, and the margin of under half a percentage point left open the possibility of post-election scrutiny, though Colom's lead widened as late ballots were tallied.

Why the result is historic

Colom, a 43-year-old district attorney for Mississippi's 16th Circuit Court District and a seventh-generation Mississippian, will become the state's first Black U.S. senator since the Reconstruction era. The last Black senator from Mississippi was Blanche K. Bruce, elected by the state legislature in 1874. Colom is the first Black senator Mississippi voters have ever chosen directly.

He is also the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Mississippi since 1982, when John Stennis won reelection. The win ends a 44-year stretch in which Democrats had not won a Senate election in the state, a span that began just weeks before Colom was born.

Colom built his campaign around economic concerns, including the cost of living, rising prices and access to health care. According to the Associated Press, he capitalized on the state's large Black population, discontent with the economy and Hyde-Smith's missteps as she sought a second full term. Hyde-Smith, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, joined the Senate in 2018.

The personal twist: the judgeship Hyde-Smith blocked

The result carries a striking personal dimension. In 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Colom, then the district attorney for Mississippi's 16th Judicial District, to a federal judgeship on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi. In 2023, Hyde-Smith used the Senate's blue-slip custom to block his nomination.

Three years later, Colom has taken Hyde-Smith's Senate seat. He was the first Black district attorney of the 16th Circuit and the first Black elected district attorney of a majority-white district in the history of the state.

What the win means for the Senate

Colom's victory is the Democrats' eighth Senate pickup of the 2026 midterm elections. It expands the majority Democrats will hold in the new Congress to at least 55 seats, with the race in Alaska still undecided. The win caps a midterm cycle in which Democrats won control of the House and Senate, a result that reshaped the balance of power in Washington.

The new Congress that convenes in January will look very different from the last one. In the House, Republicans have chosen Jim Jordan as their leader as the party prepares for the minority, while the House this week rejected an effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth by a vote of 211-204. Colom will be sworn in when the new Congress convenes in January 2027.

What happens next

The results remain unofficial until counties certify them. Mississippi's Secretary of State has said counties must submit certified results by Friday, November 13, 2026. Mississippi does not provide an automatic recount process; a candidate seeking a review would need to ask a court to order one.

Legal challenges remain possible, but the AP's call, the concession and the widening margin have resolved the central question of the race. Colom's win stands as the final major result of a midterm election that has now flipped eight Senate seats to the Democrats.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the Mississippi Senate race?

Democrat Scott Colom defeated Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. The Associated Press called the race at 5:58 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, and Hyde-Smith conceded the same evening.

What was the margin in the Mississippi Senate race?

Colom led by 4,669 votes out of nearly a million cast, about 0.49 percentage points, with 99 percent of precincts reporting: 473,336 votes (49.2 percent) to 468,667 (48.7 percent).

Why is Scott Colom's win historic?

Colom is the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Mississippi since 1982 and the state's first Black U.S. senator since the Reconstruction era. He is also the first Black senator Mississippi voters have ever chosen directly.

When will the Mississippi Senate results be certified?

Counties must submit certified results by Friday, November 13, 2026. Mississippi has no automatic recount; a candidate would need a court order for a review.

References

• NPR — Democrat Scott Colom wins Mississippi Senate race
• KNKX Public Radio — Democrat Scott Colom wins Mississippi Senate race
• The Bull Post (Associated Press) — Scott Colom wins Senate election in Mississippi
• NewsCubby — Scott Colom wins Mississippi Senate, defeats Hyde-Smith
• EURweb — Scott Colom Makes History: Mississippi Elects First Black U.S. Senator Since Reconstruction
• Meeko News — Democrat Scott Colom Wins Mississippi Senate Race in Historic Upset