Mississippi Senate race tight as mail-in ballots could decide outcome
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Incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith leads Democrat Scott Colom, but pending absentee and provisional ballots may determine the final result, with the Supreme Court having upheld the state's mail-in ballot law.
Mississippi's U.S. Senate contest remains extremely close, with incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith holding a narrow lead over Democratic challenger Scott Colom, a district attorney. The final outcome could hinge on thousands of absentee and provisional ballots that are still being counted.
Political science professor Brian Anderson of the Mississippi University for Women said he did not expect the race to be this close and noted that a Colom victory would make him the first Black senator from the state since Reconstruction. Anderson added that a Democratic win could energize the party in Mississippi.
Hyde-Smith's campaign posted on X that the remaining votes from Republican-leaning counties are expected to reinforce her path to victory and that the count of outstanding ballots will continue under normal procedures. The Republican National Committee also sent a fundraising text citing the close race and the need for resources to monitor ballot reviews.
The legal backdrop includes a June Supreme Court decision, written by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, that upheld a Mississippi law allowing mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if received within five business days. A Republican National Committee lawyer argued that late-arriving ballots tend to favor Democratic candidates. President Donald Trump called the ruling a "tremendous loss" for voters' rights at the time.
Hyde-Smith, appointed to the Senate in 2018 and elected to a full term in 2020, previously blocked Colom's 2023 nomination to a federal judgeship, citing policy disagreements and alleged campaign contributions. Colom responded that he was unaware of any donation from billionaire George Soros and urged reconsideration of the block.
Analysts note that Hyde-Smith's campaign has been low-visibility compared with Colom's, and that she has declined multiple debate invitations. Colom's campaign has highlighted perceived gaffes by Hyde-Smith, including a remark about rising beef prices that was used in a campaign ad.
The race is expected to be decided in the coming days as election officials complete the verification of an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 provisional ballots.