Colom Defeats Hyde-Smith to Become First Black Mississippi Senator Since 1875
The Democrat’s victory ends a 144-year streak and gives the party its largest midterm Senate gain since 1986.
By Fatima Saleh ·
Democrat Scott Colom has defeated incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith to become the first Black senator elected in Mississippi since Reconstruction.
The result stands as a historic break for a state that has not sent a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1982. Colom’s win marks the first time a Black man has been popularly elected to the Senate in Mississippi’s history. Previous Black senators from the state were chosen by state lawmakers during the Reconstruction era. The most recent Black senator from Mississippi, Blanche K. Bruce, was born into slavery.
Election night began with Colom holding a narrow lead over Hyde-Smith. That lead widened as officials processed absentee and provisional ballots. The Associated Press called the race on Wednesday after it became clear that Hyde-Smith could not close the gap. Mississippi has no automatic recount law. A recount requires a court order based on a lawsuit filed by a political party or campaign against a county election commission. Because the law lacks a statewide challenge system, any recount would proceed on a county-by-county basis.
Hyde-Smith conceded in a two-minute video shared on social media. She said she respected the decision of Mississippi voters and congratulated Colom on his victory. In remarks to supporters on election day, she referenced her role in blocking his federal judicial nomination. "I blocked Scott Colom from being a federal judge, and you blocked him from being a US senator," she said.
Colom’s campaign emphasized local engagement and national attention. He campaigned on the promise that Mississippi matters. A week before the vote, he attended a rally in Corinth for Hyde-Smith to speak with supporters about gas prices, groceries, and health insurance. His campaign also released a viral ad criticizing Hyde-Smith’s comment about choosing different proteins during a high cost of beef interview. Colom drove a taco truck around the state to distribute free food to voters.
Democratic stars including Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg, Kamala Harris, and Bill Clinton visited the state late in the race. Trump rallied for Hyde-Smith the previous month. Colom, a seventh-generation Mississippian, had served as the first Black district attorney for the 16th circuit. He won that seat in 2015 by unseating a nearly 30-year incumbent.
The election contributes to a national wave of Democratic gains. With Colom’s addition, Democrats will hold at least 55 seats in the Senate. This represents the party’s largest midterm gain since 1986. Colom visited Millsaps College, Jackson State University, and Tougaloo College after the election. He also stopped at local businesses in Jackson, including Marshall’s Music and Book Store and Brent’s Drugs.
