Democrat Scott Colom wins Mississippi Senate seat, breaking a Reconstruction-era barrier
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Scott Colom defeated Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi, handing Democrats a 55-44 Senate majority and making history as the state's first Black senator since 1874.
Democratic challenger Scott Colom defeated incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi’s U.S. Senate race, according to media projections on Nov. 11. The win makes Colom the state’s first Black senator since the Reconstruction era and the first Democrat to capture a Mississippi Senate seat since John Stennis in 1982, a striking sign of change in a state long dominated by reactionary politics.
The victory expands the Democratic majority in the Senate to 55-44, while the House stands at 254-168 in favor of Democrats, with several races still pending. The result follows a broader shift in the midterm elections, where Democrats made gains in traditionally Republican states despite relentless resistance from the right.
Colom, a 43-year-old district attorney, addressed supporters after the count showed him ahead by more than 4,600 votes, or 0.5 percentage point. He said his campaign faced periods of doubt, noting, "There were times that I couldn’t get donors to answer the phone. They did not believe a moment like this was possible. But I kept the faith."
He also highlighted voter frustration over rising living costs, referencing a campaign ad that mocked Hyde-Smith’s suggestion that consumers could switch to other "proteins" instead of paying higher beef prices. In the ad, voters responded, "Pick another protein? I’d rather pick another senator instead."
Hyde-Smith, appointed to the Senate in 2018 and previously winning a special election, had led polls in a state that President Donald Trump carried by nearly 23 points in 2024. She posted a video congratulating Colom after the results, after a campaign closely tied to the politics of grievance and elite favor.
Colom’s campaign cited concerns among Mississippi voters about national policies, including the war in Iran, which he said had contributed to higher fuel prices. The race was one of the last to be called, reflecting a tight contest that underscored shifting political dynamics in the Deep South and the erosion of old power structures.