US midterms: Democrat Colom defeats Hyde-Smith in Mississippi to win historic Senate seat
Democratic challenger Scott Colom defeated incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith in the Mississippi election for the US Senate, media projected on Wednesday, making him the Southern state’s first black senator since the Reconstruction era that followed the US Civil War. The result was a stunning upset in the heavily Republican state and expanded on the national drubbing the Democrats delivered to…
In a historic upset, Democratic challenger Scott Colom emerged victorious in Mississippi's Senate race, defeating incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith. This marked the first time a black senator has represented the Southern state since Reconstruction following the US Civil War. The surprise win came in a state that had traditionally been heavily Republican, with Trump having won by a substantial margin in 2024.
The result expanded the Democrats' Senate control to 55-44, following their significant losses in the November 3 midterm elections.
The victory gave the Democrats a clear majority in the 100-member Senate, though the outcome of one other race from a previous week remained undecided. The Democrats had already gained 41 seats in the House of Representatives, leading 254 to 168 with 13 races yet to be called.
Hyde-Smith, a 67-year-old who had been in office since 2018, had consistently led in polls ahead of the race. She was supported by Trump, who campaigned for her in the final days. Colom, a 43-year-old district attorney, became the first Democrat to win a Mississippi Senate seat since John Stennis in 1982.
During the campaign, Colom argued that voters felt betrayed by Trump's policies, including the ongoing war in Iran, which had driven up fuel prices. He focused his efforts on grassroots campaigning, visiting town halls, public housing, festivals, and food trucks. Notably, a rally with Democratic Senators Raphael Warnock of Georgia and Cory Booker of New Jersey bolstered Colom's campaign.
Colom's rival, Hyde-Smith, had previously blocked Colom's nomination for a federal district judge position in northern Mississippi by former President Joe Biden, citing his stance on transgender issues. In a previous election in 2023, Hyde-Smith had supported Colom's nomination for the post.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
