US Democrats candidate Colom wins Mississippi, is state's first Black senator in over 150 years
The result was also a historic victory for African Americans in a former slave state that was a hotbed of repression during the civil rights movement of the 1960s.
In a shocking upset, Democratic candidate Scott Colom emerged victorious in Mississippi's Senate race, marking him as the first Black senator from the state since the Reconstruction era, which followed the US Civil War. This result, combined with the Democrats' strong performance in the November midterm elections, saw the party gain control of both chambers of Congress for the first time in either of President Donald Trump's two terms.
Colom, a 43-year-old district attorney, made history by unseating incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith, who had represented Mississippi in the Senate since 2018. This victory comes as the Democrats now hold a 55-44 advantage in the 100-member Senate, with one seat in Alaska yet to be determined. The win provides the opposition party with an opportunity to block partisan legislation and investigate the Trump administration.
Colom's campaign focused on addressing the cost of living, featuring an ad that mocked Hyde-Smith's suggestion of multiple protein options to avoid price increases, which resonated with voters. He drew support from other prominent Black senators, Raphael Warnock and Cory Booker, during his campaign. Hyde-Smith, 67, had been leading in polls until Colom's breakthrough strategy, and she later congratulated her defeated opponent in a social media post.
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