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US Politics

Mississippi Senate race stays too close to call, with Democrat narrowly ahead

Democrat Scott Colom leads Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith with about 96% of votes counted, and both camps have voiced confidence.

12 news outlets reported this
Liberal6 outletsa possible historic upset in a deep-red stateCenter4 outletstoo close to call, with both candidates confidentConservative2 outletsa safe Republican seat suddenly in doubt
Published 3 min read
Overview

Mississippi's U.S. race was still undecided on Wednesday morning after Tuesday's election. Democrat Scott Colom, a , led Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by 43 votes with 96% counted in several reports, while The Hill gave a lead of a little over 2,000 votes. Mississippi has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1982, and President Trump won the state by 20 points in 2024.

At a Wednesday press conference, Colom said he is confident he will win and that lawyers and volunteers are ready to make sure the law is followed. His campaign said more than 15,000 affidavit ballots were still to be counted. According to Straight Arrow News, Hyde-Smith stopped short of declaring victory on Tuesday night but said she would continue to be the state's senator.

HuffPost says the state has no automatic recount law but a judge can be asked for one. The New York Times says Mississippi does not allow recounts in statewide elections, and the Daily Beast says state law does not provide for a recount. The Daily Beast also says mailed ballots can arrive up to five business days after Election Day if postmarked by then.

Democrats won control of the Senate on Tuesday, and Alaska's Senate race is also undecided.

Key figures
  • 43 votes Colom's lead over Hyde-Smith early Wednesday — HuffPost
  • 96% share of votes counted, per Straight Arrow News — Straight Arrow News
  • more than 15,000 affidavit ballots still to count, per Colom's campaign — The Daily Beast
  • five business days time mailed ballots can arrive after Election Day — The Daily Beast
  • 54-seat majority Democrats' Senate majority, per the Daily Beast — The Daily Beast

Three sides of the story

Liberal6 outlets

a possible historic upset in a deep-red state

The Daily Beast leads with Colom's claim of victory in its headline, "Dem Declares Shock Red State Victory and Dares to Sue." It quotes him saying "We are going to win this" and that lawyers are ready. It adds the history: no Democrat elected since 1982, and, it says, Hyde-Smith kept Colom from being confirmed as a federal judge.

CBS News calls the race a with a margin under 100 votes, notes Colom campaigned on cost of living and health care, and quotes him saying results are "trending in our direction." HuffPost opens with the 43-vote gap and the full tallies, 462,821 to 462,778, and says a win would be the eighth Senate seat Democrats flipped. It reports that the state has no automatic recount law, though a judge can be asked for a recount.

The New York Times headline stresses the race is close and the state has no vote recount law.

Center4 outlets

too close to call, with both candidates confident

Straight Arrow News leads with the 43-vote gap at 96% counted and says Colom carried counties that once leaned Republican. It gives both candidates' words. Hyde-Smith said, "I assure you I will continue to be your U.S. senator," while Colom pointed to momentum and promised to fight to protect every vote.

It also notes Independent Ty Pinkins has roughly 2%. The Hill reports a razor-thin Colom lead of less than 1 percentage point, giving the tally as 461,370 to 459,201. Forbes headlines betting-market odds of near 90% for a Democratic win and says the race could take weeks to resolve.

NewsNation reports that polling before Election Day showed a narrower margin between the two candidates.

Conservative2 outlets

a safe Republican seat suddenly in doubt

The Blaze headlines Hyde-Smith's "sure-thing re-election" as "now a dogfight too close to call." It describes Colom as a "George Soros-backed Democratic prosecutor" and says Hyde-Smith had "a rude awakening on Election Day." It cites the Associated Press for a 48.9% tie.

It quotes Colom saying he is confident he will "flip this seat" and recalls that Trump joined Hyde-Smith on the trail, quoting him as worried that voters might stay home, as reported by the Mississippi Free Press. It also lists Hyde-Smith's platform, including the and lower taxes. The Washington Times calls the race "neck-and-neck" and says Colom leads by a few dozen votes with 96% counted.

All sources: 12 articles from 12 outlets

Liberal (6)

Center (4)

Conservative (2)

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