After an additional week of counting votes, Mississippi has turned blue despite historic voting predictions. This win has made Senate-elect Scott Colom the state’s first Black senator since 1881, the Reconstruction era.
From amplifying his priorities of pushing for a pause on data center construction to raising minimum wage for workers and cutting medicaid costs in the state to his infamous “Sinners” campaign video alongside his twin brother, Andrew, Colom has set the stage for a new era in the Magnolia state. He also has become the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in the Southern GOP. The Associated Press initially released the results on the evening of Wednesday, November 11.
According to MS Now, Colom beat long-time senator Cindy Hyde-Smith after two terms in the position spanning eight years. He led this victory by 4,669 votes, contributed primarily by provisional and mail-in absentee ballots. Mississippi took an additional week to confirm results after other states were announced due to them not having a recount law in place of only allowing voting to take place the day off.
With the severity of the Nolan Wells case among other social happenings within the state and Mississippi having one of the largest Black populations in the country, many believe that the change we’re seeing is as a result of an increase in mobilization of Black voters. MSNow also reported that Colom won extensively in predominantly Black areas of the state, at over 80% in comparison to other counties which sat at 75%. Due to the state receiving a large influx of votes, it caused an unanticipated delay in counting for the result that has now been received.
Historically, Mississippi has always leaned Republican in its voting style and historic principles. 2026 has had an extensive “blue wave” as Mississippi joins a longer list of states that have traditionally voted Republican for their political leadership now have Democratic leadership. The states on said list include Texas, Iowa, South Carolina, Kansas, and Ohio. These wins have helped further confirm Democratic control of the Senate and the House.
Colom follows in the legacy of Blanche Kelso Bruce who was previously elected senator in 1875 and succeeded breaking the initial barrier of diverse racial representation within the state of Mississippi. After this win, there had not been a Black person in the role until today. This win also comes full circle for Colom after initially petitioning to become a federal judge, but was blocked by former Senator Hyde-Smith in 2023.
Along with the rest of the newly elected officials for this year’s midterm election cycle, Colom is set to be sworn in and begin his duties in January 2027.