AP projects Scott Colom as winner of U.S. Senate race in Mississippi

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Mississippi has a new Senator-elect.

Shortly before 5 p.m., the Associated Press called the U.S. Senate race for Scott Colom.

Colom carried 49.2% of the popular vote, compared to 48.7% for Cindy Hyde-Smith, with 99% of the votes reported.

The Senator-elect’s lead increased throughout the day on Veteran’s Day as affidavit ballots were counted.

As of 4:58 p.m., Colom had a 4,669-vote lead over Hyde-Smith, slightly more than the 0.4% of the 962,237 total ballots counted.

Colom will become the first Black U.S. senator from the state since Reconstruction.

He also becomes the first Democrat to be elected Senator from the state since John C. Stennis, who served in office from 1947 to 1989.

Associated Press figures show with Colom, the Democratic Party will control 55 seats in the Senate when the term begins in January, compared to 44 for the Republicans.

The Democrats also will control the House of Representatives, with 255 seats, compared to 168 for the Republican party.

In a statement, Rep. Bennie Thompson congratulated Colom, saying he is “incredibly proud of Senator-elect Scott Colom and his historic victory.”

“Having known Scott for many years, it has been a pleasure to watch him grow into the leader he is today. His campaign brought together Mississippians from every walk of life - young and old, Black and white, rural and urban - in a way I have never witnessed before in more than 50 years of public service,” he wrote.

“This victory demonstrates the power of grassroots organizing and what can be accomplished when people come together for a common purpose.”

Hyde-Smith has yet to release a statement.

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