The Mississippi Senate race between incumbent Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democratic challenger Scott Colom remains too close to call, with the candidates separated by only dozens of votes. However, Mississippi election law does not provide a mechanism for either automatic or requested recounts in such close contests.
According to the Mississippi Secretary of State's office, candidates cannot request a recount, nor can one be automatically triggered. The only avenue available if a candidate identifies issues is to conduct a "ballot box exam" and examine ballot materials after certification. Following this examination, a candidate can pursue a legal challenge.
As of Wednesday morning, with 96% of the expected vote counted, Hyde-Smith and Colom were tied at 48.9% of the vote. Independent challenger Ty Pinkins held 2%. Specifically, Colom had 462,857 votes, leading Hyde-Smith by 65 votes, who had 462,792. Pinkins had 19,938 votes.
Mail ballots can be received up to five business days after Election Day, provided they were postmarked by Election Day. This means November 10, 2026, is the deadline for mail ballots to arrive. Additionally, provisional ballots, known in Mississippi as "affidavit ballots," are still pending. These allow residents to vote if their address isn't found in the poll book at their precinct. The number of outstanding provisional ballots is not definitively known, though Colom's campaign manager suggested there could be around 15,000.
The election results must be certified by November 13. The close margin is notable in Mississippi, a state that has consistently voted Republican. In 2024, President Donald Trump won the state with 61% of the vote, and Hyde-Smith secured her Senate seat with 54% in 2020. She was initially appointed to the Senate in 2018.
Colom, currently a district attorney for four counties, would be Mississippi's first Black U.S. senator since Reconstruction if elected. The state has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1982. President Trump had previously campaigned with Hyde-Smith, urging support for her candidacy.