Colom Unseats Hyde-Smith in Mississippi

Democrat Scott Colom became the first Democrat to win a Mississippi statewide race since 1982 by defeating incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith.

Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Elections

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Democrat Scott Colom defeated Trumpist incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith in the Mississippi midterm elections on November 7, 2026. The win makes Colom the first Democrat to win a statewide race in Mississippi since 1982.

Why it matters

The result breaks a four-decade Republican hold on Mississippi statewide offices and signals a shift in the state's midterm electorate. It also comes as the Trump administration faces scrutiny over its war with Iran, which has drawn attention to Vice President J.D. Vance's standing.

Mississippi's most recent prior Democratic statewide win came in 1982, the baseline against which Colom's victory is measured. The extraction does not include vote counts or the margin of victory.

The players

Scott Colom

Scott Colom is a Democrat who defeated incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith in the Mississippi midterm elections.

Cindy Hyde-Smith

Cindy Hyde-Smith is a Republican U.S. senator from Mississippi who lost her seat to Democrat Scott Colom.

The details

Scott Colom won the Mississippi race by toppling Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith, a Trump-aligned senator. The win comes as President Trump has reportedly sidelined Vice President J.D. Vance over the U.S. war on Iran.

November 7, 2026: Midterm elections held, including the Mississippi race won by Colom.
1982: Last time a Democrat won a statewide race in Mississippi before Colom's victory.

Political Context

Colom's victory breaks a Republican statewide winning streak in Mississippi that dates to 1982. The result is set against a midterm backdrop in which President Trump has sidelined Vice President J.D. Vance on the Iran war and his presidential ambitions.

Colom's win changes the partisan makeup of Mississippi's congressional delegation, affecting federal representation for voters statewide. The result takes effect when the new term begins.

The takeaway

Statewide results can shift quickly in midterm years, so following local election certifications is the best way to track how a race is officially decided. Voters who want to understand their state's representation should review both the new winners and the composition of their state's delegation.