NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedNovember 7, 2026Miami-Dade County
Mississippi vote count continues in historically close U.S. Senate race between Scott Colom and Cindy Hyde-Smith
Photo: WPLG Local 10 – Main Feed
Mississippi election officials are continuing to tally remaining absentee and affidavit ballots in the uncalled U.S. Senate race between Democrat Scott Colom and Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith. The outcome could make Colom the state's first Black U.S. senator since Reconstruction. Both campaigns are monitoring the process ahead of county certification deadlines and statutory deadlines for curing ballots next week.
Read the full story at WPLG Local 10 – Main FeedWhy It Matters
The result determines whether Mississippi elects its first Black U.S. senator in nearly 150 years, though control of the U.S. Senate is already decided.
Key Facts
- The U.S. Senate race between Democrat Scott Colom and Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith remains uncalled by The Associated Press as vote tallying continues.
- Election officials across Mississippi's 82 counties are processing remaining absentee and affidavit ballots.
- Absentee ballots can be counted if received by Tuesday, five business days after the election.
- Voters who cast affidavit ballots due to identification issues have until Tuesday to address those matters in person at their local elections office.
- Counties have until Friday to certify complete election results to the Mississippi secretary of state.
- Mississippi law contains no provision for a statewide recount, though campaigns may seek court orders county by county to examine ballots.
- Nearly 40% of Mississippi's population is Black, but the state has not had a Black U.S. senator since post-Civil War Reconstruction.
Who's Mentioned
PersonSorie Tarawally“Attorney and supporter of Scott Colom.”PersonMedgar Evers“Civil rights leader whose Jackson home was the setting for Colom's closing campa”OrganizationUniversity of Mississippi“Institution where Sorie Tarawally attended law school.”locationMississippi“U.S. state holding the contested Senate election.”OrganizationAssociated Press“News organization that has not yet called the Senate race.”PersonAngela Alsobrooks“U.S. Senator from Maryland.”PersonMaati Jone Primm“Owner of Marshall's Music & Bookstore in Jackson.”locationJackson“City in Mississippi where the Farish Street business district and Medgar Evers' ”PersonCindy Hyde-Smith“Republican incumbent U.S. Senator for Mississippi.”locationSierra Leone“Birthplace of attorney Sorie Tarawally.”PersonDonald Trump“President whose policies were discussed by Scott Colom on the campaign trail.”locationMaryland“U.S. state represented by Senator Angela Alsobrooks.”OrganizationMarshall’s Music & Bookstore“Oldest Black-owned bookstore in the U.S., located in Jackson, Mississippi.”PersonScott Colom“Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Mississippi.”