Mississippi has elected its first Black senator since the Reconstruction era.
Reconstruction was the period that followed the US Civil War.
Democrat Scott Colom won the US Senate race on Wednesday.
He defeated Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith after several days of counting ballots.
Colom is 43 and works as a district attorney. That means he is the top prosecutor in his local area.
Hyde-Smith is 67 and was first elected to the Senate in 2018.
Key points
- Democrat Scott Colom beat Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi's US Senate race.
- He is the state's first Black senator since Reconstruction, the period after the US Civil War.
- He is the first Democrat to win a Mississippi Senate seat since 1982.
- Democrats will hold at least 55 Senate seats next year.
So why does this win stand out?
Mississippi has been dominated by Republicans for decades. President Donald Trump won the state by nearly 23 points in 2024.
Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report
Hyde-Smith had led in most opinion polls during the campaign. Colom's win shows how much the race changed.
The last Black senator from Mississippi was Blanche Bruce. He was elected in 1874 and was a former slave.
How did Colom win over voters?
Colom campaigned on the cost of living and healthcare.
He held town halls and visited public housing, festivals and local businesses.
Hyde-Smith campaigned as a reliable conservative. She also stressed her loyalty to Trump.
Colom said voters deserve a senator who listens to them. He said the senator should care about what they are going through.
What happens next in the Senate?
The race was so tight that Colom led by only a few dozen votes at times.
Officials needed days to process absentee and provisional ballots.
Hyde-Smith conceded in a video on Wednesday evening. She said, "I respect the decision of Mississippi voters."
Democrats will hold at least 55 Senate seats next year. The only Senate race still waiting to be called is in Alaska.
Sources
- WION: Democrat Scott Colom wins Mississippi Senate race, breaks GOP’s grip in stunning upset
- Hindustan Times: Democrat Scott Colom becomes Mississippi’s first Black US senator since Civil War Reconstruction
- CNBCTV18: Mississippi elects first Black senator since Reconstruction, first Democrat since 1982
