Vicksburg Daily News –
VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — After over a week of counting ballots, Democratic candidate Scott Colom was named the official winner of the Mississippi U.S. Senate race.
The results were announced Thursday, Nov. 11, on the same day the nation celebrated Veterans Day. Before the Friday deadline to certify the results, Colom with lead with 472,188 votes, or 49.2%, to Hyde-Smith with 467,603 votes, or 48.7%.
Independent candidate Ty Pinkins drew 20,162 votes, or 2.1%.
Colom is the first Democrat elected to represent Mississippi in the U.S. Senate since John Stennis was re-elected in 1982. Additionally, he is the first black Mississippi Senator since Republican Blanche Bruce left office in 1881.
Colom won out Hyde-Smith who had served for eight years in the Senate and was an avid supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump.
In response to the historic win, several groups have released statements. Including Mississippi’s Grand Old Party, Republicans.
Mike Hurst, Chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party Chairman said the two parties will continue to work together for Mississippi.
“Scott Colom ran a good campaign here in Mississippi, and I congratulate him on his victory. The people of Mississippi have spoken, and we Republicans respect their decision. I am deeply grateful to Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith and her staff for their years of faithful service to our state, and to the countless Mississippians who worked tirelessly, day in and day out, on behalf of this cause in which we so deeply believe. While elections may determine who holds public office, they do not define who we are as a people nor diminish the principles we hold dear. Tomorrow, the sun will rise over the same Mississippi we loved yesterday, and with humility in our hearts, faith in our people, and confidence in our convictions, we will continue working together to make this state and our country better than before,” said Hurst.
Mississippi Republican Governor and Trump supporter Tate Reeves congratulated Colom on the victory.
“Congratulations to Senator-Elect Scott Colom,” Reeves said. “I hope to collaborate as we continue our very important work to support Mississippi families, grow jobs and wages for our people, and improve educational outcomes for our kids!”
The Magnolia Project, a civil rights organization which works to strengthen the organizations and community leaders building a more inclusive and representative democracy in Mississippi, also responded to the election results.
In a press release the group acknowledged Mississippi’s political landscape is changing, but the work that made the moment possible has been decades in the making.
“The Magnolia Project recognizes the historic significance of the 2026 U.S. Senate election and, above all, the generations of Black Mississippians, grassroots organizers, community organizations, faith leaders, volunteers, and local champions whose commitment to civic participation helped bring the state to this moment,” the group said.
“Mississippi’s history is a reminder that the right to vote has never been something everyone could take for granted. Generations of Black Mississippians fought, organized, and sacrificed to make that right real. What we’re witnessing now is connected to that history. This moment belongs to the people who have been doing the work in their communities for years—often without recognition, without significant resources, and without knowing whether their efforts would ever produce a moment like this. They never stopped believing that their voices and their votes matter,” said Kelcy Higgins, Executive Director of the Magnolia Project.
The Mississippi Democratic Party also released a statement. DNC Chair Ken Martin congratulated Colom on the win.
“Congratulations to Scott Colom, the Mississippi Democratic Party, and all of the organizers throughout the state who did the hard work to flip this seat from red to blue and make history by electing a Mississippi Democrat to the U.S. Senate for the first time in more than four decades. As a skilled prosecutor, proven judge, and accomplished district attorney, Scott has a track record of standing up for his neighbors and fighting for working families. In the Senate, he will be a reliable champion for lowering grocery and gas prices, expanding access to healthcare, making housing and childcare more affordable, investing in rural communities, and putting working people first,” said Martin.
Colom, who has no legislative experience at any level, now heads to Washington D.C. where Democrats will be in the majority in both chambers of Congress.
However, Colom has a clear plan on which committees he will seek to serve in order to best help the people on the Magnolia State. He has announced he would seek to serve on the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Senate Agriculture Committee. Colom said both committees, as well the transportation subcommittee, are important to the people of Mississippi.
According to reports, only 14 Black senators have ever been elected or appointed in the U.S.
When the 120th Congress is sworn in Jan. 3, 2027, seven Black senators will be serving.
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