Mississippi Senate Race Stays Close
Hyde-Smith and Colom are separated by fewer than 50 votes as 95.6% of ballots are counted.
By Lucas Navarro ·
The U.S. Senate race in Mississippi remains statistically tied as of early Wednesday morning, with candidates separated by a margin of 43 votes after the counting of 95.6% of ballots.
The narrow result means the final outcome will depend on a small fraction of remaining precincts. Democrat Scott Colom currently holds a lead of 462,821 votes, which represents 48.9% of the total. Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith trails by a single digit with 462,778 votes, also at 48.9%. Independent candidate Ty Pinkins has accumulated 19,935 votes, or 2.1% of the total.
Both candidates addressed their respective watch parties in Biloxi before the official count was finalized. Neither declared a definitive victory on stage, though both expressed confidence that they would be the state's next senator. Hyde-Smith noted that her campaign remained in a "very good lead" despite the close numbers. She told the crowd, "I assure you I will continue to be your U.S. Senator."
Colom also projected a win, telling his supporters, "We're gonna win." He added that he believes the race will show the country that Mississippi matters. Because this is a general congressional election, the candidate with the highest number of votes will secure the seat. There is no provision for a runoff vote if the results remain close.
The contest carries historical weight for the state's political representation. No Democrat has held a Senate seat from Mississippi since 1989. The final certification of results will determine whether Hyde-Smith retains her position or if Colom ends a nearly four-decade Republican hold on the state's Senate delegations.
