Mississippi Senate Race

US Politics Daily@uspoliticsdaily

Democrat Scott Colom has won Mississippi's U.S. Senate race, defeating Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith. The Associated Press made the call on Wednesday, after counties finished updating their totals with provisional ballots.

Colom led by just 43 votes after election night, but his lead grew as the remaining counties reported, and he won most of those final updates across the state. He finished 4,669 votes ahead out of 962,237 counted, about half a percentage point. A spokesman said Hyde-Smith has called Colom to concede and congratulate him.

US Politics Daily@uspoliticsdaily

The Mississippi Senate contest between Scott Colom and Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith is still very tight. As of Sunday morning Colom led 467,930 to 465,356, a 2,574-vote margin with about 97% counted.

Organizers in Holmes County registered 283 voters, and late-counted votes gave Colom a 28-vote edge there. If he wins, he would be the first Black U.S. senator from Mississippi since Reconstruction.

Absentee ballots can arrive through Nov. 10 and counties must certify by Nov. 13. Any recount would need a court order, since Mississippi has no automatic recount.