Democrat Scott Colom celebrated his election as Mississippi's first Black senator since Reconstruction on Wednesday night. Incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith conceded in a video statement. The Associated Press called the race eight days after Election Day, with Colom leading 49.2% to 48.7%, a margin of roughly 4,600 votes. Colom, a 43-year-old district attorney, will become the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Mississippi since 1982 and the first Black person elected to statewide office since Reconstruction.
At a victory celebration on the campus of Tougaloo College, a historically Black institution that was a haven for civil rights activists, Colom told a jubilant crowd that his journey started with a prayer. "In Mississippi, our prayers often change the course of history," he said. "God didn't want us to get this the easy way. He wanted us to get it the Mississippi way."
Hyde-Smith, who has held the Senate seat since 2018, released a two-minute video conceding the race. "While this is not the outcome we worked for or hoped for, I respect the decision of Mississippi voters," she said. "I want to congratulate Scott Colom and wish him well as he takes on the tremendous responsibility of representing our great state."
The race was not expected to be close. President Donald Trump won Mississippi by more than 22 points in 2024, and Republicans have held both Senate seats for 40 years. But Colom ran an energetic campaign, visiting all 82 counties while Hyde-Smith had not held a town hall in six years. Colom's campaign turned Hyde-Smith's comment that consumers had “so many proteins to choose from” in response to rising beef prices into a viral ad. Former President Bill Clinton and other Democratic stars rallied for him in the closing weeks.
Colom's victory is part of a broader Democratic wave in the 2026 midterms, fueled by anger over the Iran war and rising costs. Democrats now hold at least 55 seats in the Senate, with one race in Alaska still too close to call, and control of the House of Representatives.
Colom is the first Black senator from Mississippi since Blanche K. Bruce left office in 1881, and the first Black senator the state's voters have ever directly elected. Colom has said he wants to make sure he won't be the last. “I don't want anybody to say that I did anything to hurt the next person that has the talent, the work ethic, the ability to be able to reach for their dreams,” he said.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Colom's win gives Democrats a stronger Senate majority, reducing the number of Republican crossovers needed to pass legislation.
- It demonstrates that economic anxiety and anti-war sentiment can upend even the safest Republican seats.
- The election of a Black Democrat in Mississippi is a historic shift in a state with a legacy of voter suppression.
Background
Mississippi has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since John Stennis in 1982. The state's last Black senator, Blanche K. Bruce, was elected by the state legislature in 1875. President Donald Trump won the state by 23 points in 2024. Colom, a district attorney, was nominated by Joe Biden for a federal judgeship in 2022 but his nomination was blocked by Hyde-Smith. He announced his Senate run in 2025.
Key Perspectives
Scott Colom: said his victory shows that "Mississippi matters" and that prayer can change history. He dedicated his win to the civil rights activists who fought for the ballot.
Cindy Hyde-Smith: conceded the race and congratulated Colom, saying she respects the voters' decision.
National Democratic leaders: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and DSCC Chair Kirsten Gillibrand said Colom will be a champion for Mississippi in Washington.
Mike Espy, former Agriculture Secretary and two-time Senate candidate: said this is "Scott Colom's time" and that he was happy to support him.
Tougaloo students Aznii Welchlin and Terry Rogers: expressed emotion and hope, saying the win makes them proud to be Mississippians.
What to Watch
- The Alaska Senate race, which remains too close to call, could give Democrats a 56th seat.
- The impact of Democratic control of both chambers on Trump's legislative agenda and judicial nominations.
- Whether Colom's victory prompts a lasting change in Mississippi's political alignment or is a one-off driven by national headwinds.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 7 sources: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedScott Colom defeated incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith in the Mississippi Senate race, in an upset described by sources as stunning or one of the biggest of the midterms.Washington Examiner: “Democrat Scott Colom unseated Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) in one of the biggest upsets in the 2026 midterm elections.”
- SupportedHyde-Smith conceded on Wednesday evening in a video posted on social media.BBC News: “Hyde-Smith congratulated Colom in a video posted on X on Wednesday evening and wished him well.”
- Reports differColom is the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Mississippi since 1982.DW English: “The narrow victory makes Colom, 43, the state's first Black US senator since post-Civil War Reconstruction and the first new Democratic senator chosen by Mississippi since 1947.”
- SupportedColom is Mississippi’s first Black senator since Reconstruction.World news | The Guardian: “Democrat Scott Colom defeated Cindy Hyde-Smith, the incumbent Republican senator, to become the first Black senator in Mississippi elected since Reconstruction,”
- SupportedColom is the first Black person popularly elected to the Senate in Mississippi.World news | The Guardian: “Colom is also the first Black man popularly elected to the Senate in the state’s history – during Reconstruction, senators were chosen by state lawmakers.”
- SupportedThe Associated Press called the race with Colom ahead 49.2% to 48.7%, a margin of roughly 4,600 votes.Mississippi Today: “The AP called the race for Colom based on uncertified results, and the campaigns have said legal challenges are possible. Colom led 49.2% to Hyde-Smith’s 48.7%. He led Wednesday night by 4,645 votes.”
- SupportedHyde-Smith said: “While this is not the outcome we worked for or hoped for, I respect the decision of Mississippi voters. I want to congratulate Scott Colom and wish him well as he takes on the tremendous responsibility of representing our great state.”World news | The Guardian: ““While this is not the outcome we worked for or hoped for, I respect the decision of Mississippi voters,” she said in a two-minute concession video, shared on social media. “I want to congratulate Scott Colom and wish him well as he takes on the tremendous responsibility of representing our great state.””
- SupportedThe race remained unclear on election night while officials counted absentee and provisional ballots and thousands of affidavit ballots by hand.World news | The Guardian: “His lead widened as election officials counted absentee and provisional ballots.”
- SupportedHyde-Smith said her campaign had worked tirelessly to ensure every legally cast vote was counted, while addressing concerns about a purge of voter rolls.Axios: “Hyde-Smith also addressed another worry from Mississippi voters following a significant purge of the state's voter rolls, saying that her campaign "has worked tirelessly to ensure every legally cast vote was counted and that the people of Mississippi received a fair and transparent election."”
- SupportedHyde-Smith told a reporter, in response to a question about rising beef prices, that Mississippians had “so many proteins to choose from”; Colom’s campaign used the remark in an ad and drove a “pick your protein” taco truck around the state.World news | The Guardian: “Colom drew national attention for a viral ad that played on his opponent’s response to a question about the rising cost of beef: “You have so many proteins to choose from,” Hyde-Smith told a local television host during the interview. Colom’s campaign seized on the moment, producing a 30-second ad”
- SupportedColom held events in all 82 counties, while Hyde-Smith had not held a town hall in six years.Fortune | FORTUNE: “The win was mostly Colom: he held events in all 82 Mississippi counties, the Washington Post reported, while Hyde-Smith hadn’t held a town hall in six years.”
- SupportedColom’s win gives Democrats at least 55 Senate seats and marks their largest midterm gain since 1986.World news | The Guardian: “With the addition of Colom, Democrats will hold at least 55 seats in the Senate – the party’s largest midterm gain since 1986.”