Mississippi's Senate race is uncalled: Democrat Scott Colom leads Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by under 2,000 votes, with mail and affidavit ballots still out
WDAM has the Secretary of State's count and deadlines; Magnolia Tribune has both campaigns' statements and the independent candidate's spoiler math.
The U.S. Senate race in Mississippi was uncalled at the cutoff. By midday Thursday, November 5, Democrat Scott Colom led Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by just over 1,700 votes, CBS reports; CBS rates it a toss-up. At the end of Wednesday's count, WDAM reports, Colom had 464,926 votes (49%) to Hyde-Smith's 463,788 (48.9%).
Secretary of State Michael Watson says about 3,600 mail ballots are outstanding, plus an unknown number of affidavit (provisional) ballots from voters whose eligibility must be confirmed. Mail ballots must arrive within five business days; counties have until November 13 to certify. Mississippi has no recount provision, so the plurality winner takes the seat. Colom's campaign estimates 15,000 affidavit ballots; Magnolia Tribune cites unconfirmed reports of up to 18,000.
The NRSC and Hyde-Smith's campaign asked all counties to separate and preserve affidavit ballots; Colom's campaign called it a "desperate stunt." The DSCC has sent lawyers to monitor the count. A Colom win would make him the first Democrat Mississippi has elected to the Senate since 1982, and its first Black senator since 1881.
Across the spectrum 2
Democrat
Scott Colom, Democratic Senate candidate: Colom told reporters that "anybody who can look at the math should be able to know where this is going. It's going to Scott Colom as the next United States Senator," and that his campaign will "make sure that the process follows the law, and we have integrity."
Magnolia Tribune ↗Republican
Mike Hurst, Mississippi Republican Party chair: At a news conference Thursday, Hurst insisted the election "is far from being over" and said the state party has attorneys and observers throughout the state to ensure all legally cast ballots are counted.
CBS News ↗-
Provisional ballot
After exploring Colom leads Senate race against Hyde-Smith on day 3 of ballot counting, what Mississippi calls an affidavit ballot is better known as a Provisional ballot.
A provisional ballot records a vote when a voter's eligibility must be resolved before it can count; the Help America Vote Act of 2002 guarantees the option in most states.
Wikipedia · Wade · 5 min
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Plurality voting
After exploring 2026 Senate midterm election results as Democrats win control, Schumer vows "legislative razor wire" against Trump, why a few hundred votes can settle it comes down to Plurality voting.
Under plurality voting, the candidate who polls more than any other is elected; a majority is not required.
Wikipedia · Wade · 5 min
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