Scott Colom and Black Mississippians stand on the cusp of Senate history as vote count stretches on

Jackson, Mississippi (AP) - Democrat Scott Colom is not yet the first Black U.S. Senator from Mississippi, but he has been celebrated as a historic figure as the vote count continues. Colom, a local prosecutor, walked through the Farish Street business district, a site where civil rights leaders once organized.

Mississippi is still counting ballots that could make Colom the state's first Black senator since the Reconstruction period following the Civil War. This possibility creates a mix of cautious optimism and celebration among Black voters, who make up nearly 40% of the population, yet have had limited representation at the top levels of state government and in Washington for generations.

The race still has time to be called by The Associated Press, and Colom’s historic bid depends on a lengthy process involving the examination of absentee and provisional ballots (affidavit ballots) by local officials across Mississippi’s 82 counties. Volunteers and legal representatives for both campaigns are anticipating potential legal challenges.

Colom mentioned that ballots counted since Tuesday lean in his favor, while he criticized Hyde-Smith for not explaining her strategy moving forward. "She’s still our senator. Where is she? Why is she not doing any interviews?" Colom asked. "Why can’t she explain what her pathway to success is?"

Hyde-Smith has not been seen in public since election night, when she essentially declared victory despite a narrow margin with uncounted ballots. She posted on social media, "We are not backing down. This election is not over. Our team is working across Mississippi to monitor the remaining ballots and protect the integrity of the process. We will see this through to the very end!"

The number of outstanding ballots is unknown, but they include absentee ballots, which can still be counted in Mississippi if received by the fifth business day after the election. The rest are affidavit ballots, cast at the polls due to various issues like improper identification or name not on the rolls. Affidavit ballots can be verified using previous records and information provided on the ballot, without the voter needing to visit a local elections office.

Counties must certify final results to the secretary of state by Friday. Mississippi law does not allow for a statewide recount, but campaigns may seek court orders, usually county by county, to examine ballots. The impact of such a result would be significant within Mississippi, not Washington, even though Democrats have already secured control of the Senate.

The result in Mississippi would signify a major shift in the state where white conservatives have dominated for nearly 150 years, following the end of Jim Crow segregation and the Civil Rights era.