Democratic challenger Scott Colom defeated incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi election for US Senate, media projected on Wednesday, making him Southern state's first Black senator since Reconstruction era that followed US Civil War.
The result was stunning upset in heavily Republican state and expanded on national drubbing Democrats delivered to President Donald Trump's Republicans in Nov 3 midterm elections. Mississippi Senate race was one of final races to be called.
Latest media-tabulated results showed Colom ahead by more than 4,500 votes, or 0.5 percentage point, after local officials spent days processing absentee and provisional ballots, called affidavit ballots in Mississippi. AP called contest Wednesday. Colom scheduled victory celebration Wednesday night in Jackson.
Colom, 43-year-old district attorney for Mississippi's 16th Judicial District, became first Democrat to win Mississippi Senate seat since John Stennis in 1982. The last Black candidate elected to Senate in Mississippi was former slave Blanche Bruce in 1874. The last time Mississippi chose a new Democratic senator was 1947, and winner then was staunch segregationist.
Mississippi has largest share of Black residents of any US state but has been controlled mostly by white conservatives for generations. Colom capitalized on large Black turnout, discontent with economy and Hyde-Smith's missteps as she sought second full term. In 2023 Hyde-Smith, 67, blocked Colom's nomination by President Joe Biden to serve as federal district judge in northern Mississippi.
Mississippi victory gives Democrats 55-44 advantage in 100-member Senate, with winner in one Senate race from last week, in Alaska, yet to be determined. Democrats also took control of House. Mississippi is only state without legal provision for vote recounts in statewide elections. Counties have 10 days until Nov 13 to certify.
Analysis:
Historic first is also political earthquake. Mississippi had not sent a Democrat to Senate in 44 years, and not a Black senator in 152 years since Reconstruction was overturned. Colom winning by half point shows Black Belt turnout plus suburban white women breaking over economy can flip even reddest state when candidate is local prosecutor not national progressive. Hyde-Smith blocking his judgeship in 2023 created personal grudge story that energized base. For Senate, 55th seat gives Democrats cushion beyond filibuster-proof need on nominations. For Mississippi, son of one-time Republican who worked for Reagan winning as Democrat signals racial realignment long talked but never delivered.
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