Colom Leads Hyde-Smith in Mississippi Senate Race
Democrat Scott Colom holds a lead over incumbent Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith as the count continues after the November midterms.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Elections
Live Poll
Do you think the country is heading in the right direction?
Democratic challenger Scott Colom led incumbent Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith by more than 2,500 votes at the time of writing, with the race not yet called. Colom gained ground with each round of votes, after at one point leading by just a few dozen votes.
Why it matters
The race was one of the closest of the midterms in a deep-red state, and it came as Democrats won enough seats to retake control of both the House and Senate. Analysts expected Colom to hold his lead and become Mississippi's next senator.
Colom led Hyde-Smith by more than 2,500 votes at the time of writing, after at one point leading by only a few dozen votes. Hyde-Smith said a few thousand votes were still outstanding, so the final margin remains unresolved.
The players
Cindy Hyde-Smith
Cindy Hyde-Smith is a Republican senator from Mississippi who is the incumbent in the closely watched 2026 race.
Scott Colom
Scott Colom is the Democratic challenger who led Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith in the Mississippi Senate contest as the votes were counted.
The details
Hyde-Smith said a few thousand votes were still outstanding and attributed Republican losses in traditional strongholds to a nationwide issue. President Donald Trump won Mississippi overwhelmingly, while the state's Senate contest was one of seven key Senate elections.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: Midterm elections held and the Mississippi Senate race counted.
November 10, 2026: Hyde-Smith questioned by Raju on Capitol Hill about the close race.
Political Context
The result follows a midterm pattern in which Democrats regained enough seats to retake both the House and Senate. The Mississippi race stands out because Republican losses came in a state that Trump won overwhelmingly.
The outcome determines who represents Mississippi in the U.S. Senate and affects which party controls the chamber. Voters can track the official count through state election authorities as the remaining ballots are tallied.
The takeaway
Close statewide contests in traditionally Republican states can shift quickly as late-counted votes arrive, so readers should watch official results rather than early leads.
What happens next
The race has not yet been called, and the remaining outstanding votes will determine the final result.
Further reading
Explore more in Mississippi Elections coverage on the 2026 midterm results.
Live Poll
Do you think the country is heading in the right direction?
