Mississippi Senate Race Nears Historic Finish as Voters Wait

JACKSON, Miss. - The nation's eyes are on Mississippi as the state's Senate race remains too close to call nearly a week after the midterm elections. Democrat Scott Colom holds a slim lead of about 2,500 votes over Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith, a margin of less than 1%. If Colom prevails, he would become Mississippi's first Black senator in over 140 years and the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in the state since 1982.

A Historic Bid

Colom's unexpected strength in a state that President Donald Trump carried by over 22 points in 2024 has stunned political observers. His campaign has tapped into widespread frustration with the economy, blaming Republican policies for rising costs. With a Democratic Senate majority already secured, a Colom victory would expand their caucus to 55 seats, depending on the outcome of a tight race in Alaska.

The contest now hinges on thousands of outstanding ballots, including mail-in and affidavit votes. State law requires results to be certified by Friday, but the deadline for affidavit and mail-in ballots is Tuesday. Officials estimate that between 12,000 and 20,000 affidavit ballots were cast, with about 15,500 processed as of Tuesday morning. These remaining ballots could easily swing the election.

Voters Speak

At Jackson State University, a historically Black college in the capital, students expressed hope and excitement. Many voted for the first time this year, and all of those interviewed by the BBC said they supported Colom. "I really feel like a change is what we need," said 18-year-old Jamyria Dunn. "Seeing Mississippi, this state in particular, turn blue, would really bring a light to my heart that people just would not understand." Her friend Journey Moore added that witnessing a Colom win would be a 10 out of 10 on the excitement scale, saying, "I'm witnessing it, and I'm a part of it. It's pretty great."

In Brookhaven, a town in Lincoln County where Hyde-Smith was born and Trump won 72% of the vote two years ago, party loyalty remains strong. Most residents interviewed said they either voted for Hyde-Smith or did not vote. While some acknowledged rising costs, few blamed Trump or the incumbent. "It always seems, no matter who's in office, there's a spike in gas prices. There's always a war. Things are always going up and down," said Travis Powe, a 29-year-old logger who supported Hyde-Smith.

However, even some Trump supporters expressed disappointment. Keith Scott, who voted for Trump in the previous two elections, said the president had not delivered in his second term. "Trump and his administration did not hold up what they ran on. Bottom line," Scott said. "And the people like me that voted for him the first two times, that saw the benefits in his first term, we've seen none of it in his second."

Lifelong Republican Lee Barry, who also backed Hyde-Smith, pointed to economic pressures. "The price on gas is really high, so that cuts into your pocket," he said. "And then you go into the grocery store, prices are high. You get your shopping cart, and you got five things in it, and it's 100 bucks before you get out of there. So, I think that hurt her a good bit." He also felt Hyde-Smith should have campaigned more actively.

National Wave

The race was never expected to be this competitive. Colom appears to have benefited from a national backlash against Republicans, who suffered defeats in typically conservative areas. Exit polls indicate that economic woes, including tariffs and the war with Iran, have driven voter discontent. Colom, a local prosecutor, seized on the mood, dubbing his opponent "Cindy High Prices" and highlighting her support for Trump's tariffs. He campaigned in all 82 counties, while Hyde-Smith's team criticized him as a puppet of liberal donor George Soros and faced criticism for her limited public appearances.

Democrats also pointed to a controversial remark in which Hyde-Smith told voters worried about beef prices that "you have so many proteins to choose from," which Colom's team turned into a viral ad. The state's large Black population, which historically votes Democrat, appears to have turned out in record numbers, with early exit polls showing 91% support for Democrats.

As the count continues, both parties have dispatched legal teams, signaling potential challenges. For now, Mississippians wait with bated breath for a result that could reshape the state's political landscape.