For the first time since a freed slave 150 years ago: The Black candidate who stunned Mississippi nears a historic upset

In Mississippi, Democratic candidate Scott Colom leads Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith by 1,724 votes with 96% of ballots counted. If he wins, he would be the first Democrat from Mississippi in the Senate in 44 years and the first Black senator since 1874.

In Mississippi, a conservative stronghold, Democratic candidate Scott Colom leads Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith by 1,724 votes with 96% of ballots counted. If he wins, Colom would be the first Democrat Mississippi sends to the Senate in 44 years, and the first Black senator since 1874, when freed slave Blanche Bruce was elected. Colom, a 46-year-old district attorney, ran a successful ground campaign focused on the cost of living and gas prices, and won support from prominent Democrats like Kamala Harris and Bill Clinton. His opponent Hyde-Smith handed him ammunition when she said in an interview about meat prices, "You have so many sources of protein to choose from." Colom also seeks personal revenge: Hyde-Smith blocked his nomination for a federal judgeship in 2022. His campaign expects that the uncounted votes come from areas favorable to him, but the decision may only come after legal battles.