In a stunning political upset, Democrat Scott Colom has defeated Republican incumbent Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi, according to an Associated Press projection on Wednesday. The result marks a major shift in the political landscape, as Colom successfully flipped a reliably ruby-red Senate seat.
With 99% of the expected vote now reported, Colom maintains a lead of 49.2% to Hyde-Smith’s 48.7%, a margin of approximately 4,700 votes. The victory serves as the eighth Democratic pickup in the Senate this cycle, with the race in Alaska still awaiting a final outcome.
Colom, a district attorney representing four counties along the Mississippi-Alabama border, is set to make history as Mississippi’s first Black U.S. senator since the Reconstruction era. His path to victory was once dismissed by many as a long shot, but momentum shifted in the campaign’s final months. Bolstered by appearances from high-profile Democrats, including former President Bill Clinton and former Vice President Kamala Harris, Colom successfully galvanized his base.
A pivotal moment in the campaign occurred when a viral video saw Colom mocking comments made by Hyde-Smith regarding alternative protein options amid rising beef prices. The incident became a symbol of the disconnect some voters felt toward the incumbent, who was seeking her second full term and had campaigned alongside President Donald Trump as recently as October.
The two candidates share a contentious history; in 2023, Hyde-Smith blocked Colom’s nomination for a federal judgeship. While Colom has publicly stated he has forgiven the Senator for that action, the rivalry added a layer of intensity to the contest.
Following the election, Colom told ABC News that his campaign faced an uphill battle for resources and national attention, as many in his own party were skeptical that a Democrat could realistically win in the “Magnolia State.” That lack of initial support, he said, forced him to double down on an expansive, grassroots ground game. By traveling across the state and engaging directly with voters, Colom tapped into a growing frustration with Washington.
“The voters were betrayed,” Colom said. “That gave us an opportunity to compete everywhere. And for me, I wasn’t afraid to call that out, and I wasn’t also afraid to say what I was going to do.”
As the margin remained razor-thin in the hours after polls closed, both campaigns prepared for the possibility of a protracted legal battle, specifically regarding the processing of thousands of provisional ballots. However, with the current tally, the AP has determined the lead is sufficient to call the race for Colom, signaling a historic transition in Mississippi’s representation in Washington.
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