Scott Colom’s Senate Win Is a Mississippi Miracle
Scenes from the Democrats’ most shocking midterm flip.
In a remarkable turn of events, Scott Colom emerged victorious in Mississippi's Senate election, securing a significant lead of nearly five thousand votes over incumbent Chris Hyde-Smith. Colom, a 40-year-old campaigner from Columbus, had been an unknown quantity until recently, having to teach Americans how to pronounce his name correctly.
Despite facing skepticism and doubts from friends and advisors, Colom persevered and made "Mississippi Matters" the cornerstone of his campaign, contrasting his approach with Hyde-Smith's support for policies he deemed detrimental to the state.
Hyde-Smith, known for her conservative stance, had blocked Colom's appointment to a federal bench, creating a unique situation where the candidate could challenge her election. The first Black senator elected by Mississippi's voters, Colom's win marked a historic moment, as the state had previously sent only two Black senators to Washington during Reconstruction.
His victory came after months of minimal campaigning and resistance from national party leaders and the media, who initially deemed Mississippi unimportant. The tide began to turn when Democrats, acknowledging the polling data, began to support Colom financially and with endorsements from prominent figures such as Kamala Harris and Bill Clinton.
His campaign strategy focused on addressing critical issues like Medicaid cuts and economic challenges faced by rural Mississippi, emphasizing the need for change and persistence in the face of adversity.
Written by urgent.news from The New Yorker's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
