The Senate race in Mississippi has tightened unexpectedly, with Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith in a close contest against Democratic challenger Scott Colom. As of early Wednesday morning, with 96.6 percent of ballots counted, Hyde-Smith is slightly ahead, but the race is too close to call.
Colom's campaign has urged patience, stating, "it is going to be a long night but we are not over." Reports indicate Colom is currently ahead by a slim margin of 28 votes. Outstanding votes, including affidavit ballots, are still being processed, particularly from Lowndes County, Colom's hometown.
Hyde-Smith, speaking to supporters late Tuesday, acknowledged the extended count. "This is a much longer night than we thought it would be," she said, noting strong Democratic turnout but asserting "not enough of them." She expressed confidence in her eventual victory, stating, "I assure you I will continue to be your US Senator."
The race has become a nail-biter in an election cycle where Republicans have already lost their Senate majority. This close contest in Mississippi, a state that has not elected a Democratic senator in over four decades, has surprised political observers. President Trump previously won Mississippi by 23 points, and Hyde-Smith secured her last race by seven points.
Geoff Pender, politics editor at Mississippi Today, commented that the tightness of the race was unexpected, suggesting Hyde-Smith might have initially underestimated the challenge. "Hyde-Smith early on probably took it for granted," Pender told the Daily Mail.
Both campaigns sought to bolster their chances with high-profile surrogates. The Democratic campaign enlisted figures like Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg, while Hyde-Smith hosted a rally with former President Trump. Pender noted that while Colom "worked hard," his path to victory depended on "Democrats supercharge and overperform on turnout."
