Democrat Scott Colom has pulled off a historic upset in Mississippi, defeating Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and becoming the state’s first Black U.S. senator since Reconstruction.
The 43-year-old district attorney’s victory, projected Wednesday, Nov. 11, gives Democrats their eighth Senate pickup in an extraordinary midterm election cycle that has redirected control of Congress.
“Throughout this campaign, there were many times where I had to have faith,” Colom told supporters during his victory speech at Tougaloo College. “There were times that I couldn’t get donors to answer the phone. They did not believe a moment like this was possible, but I kept the faith.”
Colom, a seventh-generation Mississippian, campaigned on rising living costs and health care access.
“I did my first town hall in Jackson, Mississippi,” Colom recalled. “Less than 10 people showed up, but I kept the faith.”
Colom was not on this week’s Democratic winning list.
In Texas, James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton, while former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper flipped another Senate seat. Democrat Sherrod Brown reclaimed a Senate seat in Ohio, and Josh Turek scored a victory in Iowa.
Democrats also captured Republican-held seats in Kansas, South Carolina and Maine, where Troy Jackson defeated longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
Hyde-Smith, who entered the Senate in 2018, acknowledged her defeat Wednesday.
“While this is not the outcome we worked for or hoped for, I respect the decision of Mississippi voters,” she said. “I want to congratulate Scott Colom and wish him well.”
Democrats are now projected to hold at least 55 Senate seats beginning in January, with Alaska’s contest still unresolved.
