Blow to Republicans in their stronghold: Democrats seize Mississippi Senate seat after more than 40 years

Democratic candidate Scott Colom defeated Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith in the U.S. Senate election in Mississippi, according to media projections, marking the first Democratic victory in the seat in over 40 years, by a margin of about 4,600 votes.

Democratic candidate Scott Colom defeated Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith in the U.S. Senate election in Mississippi, one of the Republicans' strongest strongholds, according to projections from the Associated Press, CNN, and Fox News. Colom, 43, became the first Democrat elected to represent the state in the Senate in over four decades, and the first Black American to win a statewide office since Reconstruction. The race was decided after a tight contest and days of delay in declaring a winner, with thousands of ballots scrutinized. Colom led by about half a percentage point, or roughly 4,600 votes. Colom said voters proved that "Mississippi matters," adding that his campaign went through moments when it seemed headed for defeat, but he said, "I had to believe." This victory raises the Democrats' tally to 55 seats versus 44 for Republicans in the Senate, and in the House, Democrats increased their count by 41 seats, bringing their total to 254 against 168.