Democratic Senate candidate Scott Colom is leading Republican incumbent Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by approximately 2,500 votes—less than one percentage point—according to the latest results from the Associated Press, as of the most recent reporting. The race remains too close to call, with final certification pending.
Colom, a Black district attorney, publicly criticized election forecasters, including the Cook Political Report, for initially labeling his race as "Solid Republican" throughout much of the campaign cycle. In a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter), Colom argued that such ratings made fundraising more difficult and contributed to the broader neglect of Southern Democratic candidates.
Colom’s Criticism of Forecasters
In his statement, Colom directly addressed the impact of prognosticators on his campaign’s financial efforts. “At some point, we have to talk about @CookPolitical and other ‘prognosticators’ who had me and other southern candidates labeled as solid R for much of the campaign cycle,” he wrote. “They made it much more difficult to fundraise and are part of the reason the South has been neglected for so long.”
Colom also recounted an interaction with a Cook Political Report analyst, whom he described as “condescending” when he challenged the race’s rating. “One of their ‘analysts’ was extremely condescending to me (not Jessica) when I tried to make my pitch for why they were wrong about my rating like he knew something about MS politics when he’s never been to the Sip,” Colom stated. He added that this attitude had negatively affected other candidates, including Jaime Davis, a Black Democrat running in Louisiana.
Election Forecasters Respond
As of the latest reporting, Cook Political Report had not responded to requests for comment regarding Colom’s allegations. The organization’s ratings are widely cited in political media and fundraising circles, influencing donor confidence and strategic decisions.
Race Context and Historical Significance
If Colom’s lead holds, he would become the first Black senator from Mississippi since Reconstruction and the state’s first elected Democratic senator since 1982. The race has drawn national attention due to its narrow margin and the historic implications of a potential victory.
The Associated Press continues to update results as absentee and provisional ballots are counted. Election officials have not yet certified the final results.