Democratic Senate candidate Scott Colom extended his narrow lead over incumbent Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi’s U.S. Senate race as key ballot deadlines approached on Tuesday. As of 4:30 p.m. ET, Colom held a 2,607-vote advantage out of 953,547 ballots counted, representing a margin of 0.27 percentage points, according to the Associated Press. Independent candidate Ty Pinkins had 20,034 votes, accounting for approximately 2.1% of the total.
The race remains uncalled with 97% of votes reported, as officials finalize two critical categories of outstanding ballots: affidavit ballots and mail-in absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day. Tuesday marks the deadline for counties to resolve affidavit ballots, which are cast by voters whose eligibility was disputed on Election Day. Additionally, mail-in ballots must be received by today to be counted. All counties must certify results by Friday, November 13.
Mississippi is one of only two unresolved Senate races in the U.S., alongside Alaska. If Colom wins, he would become the first Black U.S. senator from Mississippi since Reconstruction, ending a 147-year absence of Black representation in the state’s Senate delegation. Hyde-Smith, who has served since 2018, would secure a second term if she overcomes the narrow deficit.
Affidavit Ballots and Mail-In Votes Remain Decisive
As of Monday, more than 15,000 affidavit ballots had been processed statewide, with 76% accepted by local officials. Approximately 2,500 absentee ballots remained outstanding, according to Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson. Of the state’s 82 counties, 75 had submitted unofficial results, while one had already certified its official results.
The tight margin has drawn heightened scrutiny, as even small shifts in affidavit or mail-in ballots could alter the outcome. Legal teams for both campaigns have been active in monitoring the process, though neither campaign has publicly commented on the latest vote counts as of Tuesday morning.
Historical Context and National Implications
Mississippi has not elected a Democratic senator since John Stennis in 1982, and the state has voted Republican in every presidential election since 1980. However, Democrats invested late in the race, capitalizing on high Black voter turnout and dissatisfaction with national political trends. Analysts note that Southern states, including those carried by former President Donald Trump by double-digit margins in 2024, saw some of the strongest leftward shifts this cycle.
If Colom secures the seat, Democrats would hold at least 54 seats in the 100-member Senate, flipping seven Republican-held seats. The outcome could further solidify the party’s majority ahead of the 2024 presidential election cycle.
Colom’s Campaign and Family Play Key Roles
Scott Colom, a district attorney from Columbus, Mississippi, has framed his campaign around local issues, including criminal justice reform and community investment. His wife, Nadia Dale Colom, has been a prominent surrogate, appearing in campaign videos and emphasizing the importance of Mississippi’s voice in Washington. In a radio interview, she stated, “We’re not a state to be written off. We have very valuable people here, with valuable voices, who deserve better representation than we have right now in Washington.”
Colom has acknowledged his wife’s role in his campaign, writing on Facebook, “My wife Nadia truly never stops campaigning. I couldn’t do this without her.” The couple has two daughters in elementary school.
Alaska’s Senate Race Also Remains Unresolved
In Alaska, Democratic nominee Mary Peltola leads incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan by 2,517 votes out of 218,641 ballots counted, a margin of 1.1 percentage points. If neither candidate secures more than 50% of the vote, the race will proceed to a ranked-choice runoff, eliminating the two other candidates and redistributing their voters’ second choices.