Mississippi Senate Race Too Close to Call
Secretary of State Michael Watson released an update on the 2026 Mississippi general election process as counties work toward certification.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Seventy of Mississippi's 82 counties have uploaded unofficial results to the Statewide Election Management System following the November 3 general election. The U.S. Senate race between Cindy Hyde Smith and Scott Colom remains too close to call.
Why it matters
Mississippi counties run elections at the local level, so the timing of certified county results determines when the state can finalize its outcomes. The Senate contest will remain unresolved until those certified results are in.
As of the update, 70 of 82 counties had uploaded unofficial results, leaving 12 counties outstanding. Approximately 3,600 absentee-by-mail ballots remain outstanding, and the number of affidavit ballots to be processed has not been disclosed.
The players
Michael Watson
Michael Watson is the Mississippi Secretary of State, who oversees the state's election administration and certification of results.
Cindy Hyde Smith
Cindy Hyde Smith is a Republican U.S. senator from Mississippi who was first appointed to the Senate in 2018 and is seeking election in this race.
Scott Colom
Scott Colom is a Democratic politician and the Lee County district attorney from Mississippi who is running against Hyde Smith in this Senate race.
The details
Counties have 10 days from the election date to submit certified results to the Secretary of State's office, with a November 13 deadline. Outstanding absentee-by-mail ballots must be received within five business days, and affidavit ballots will be processed within the certification window.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: 2026 Mississippi general election held.
November 13, 2026: Deadline for counties to submit certified results.
Political Context
Mississippi's election process is bottom-up, with circuit clerks and election commissioners running elections at the county level before results reach the state. This structure means statewide contests like the Senate race depend on each county's certification timeline.
Mississippi voters waiting on the Senate result will have to wait until certified county totals are final. Residents can follow the Statewide Election Management System and WXXV News 25 for updates as certification continues.
The takeaway
Close statewide races often hinge on administrative timelines as much as on vote totals. Checking official certification updates is the most reliable way to track the final outcome.
What happens next
Counties must submit certified results by November 13, after which the Senate race is expected to be called.
Further reading
For more on how close races are decided, see the Elections section.
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