District Attorney Scott Colom secured the seat after more than a week of ballot counting, ultimately leading Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith by over 4,500 votes, or 0.5 percentage points. Hyde-Smith, who had represented the state since 2018, previously blocked Colom's federal judicial nomination by Joe Biden in 2023. Colom credited his historic upset to extensive grassroots engagement and voter dissatisfaction with Trump-era foreign policy and rising fuel prices.
Key points
Democratic control of both congressional chambers allows lawmakers to investigate the Tru…: Democratic control of both congressional chambers allows lawmakers to investigate the Trump administration and halt partisan bills.
Cindy Hyde-Smith lost her seat despite consistently leading in pre-election polling and s…: Cindy Hyde-Smith lost her seat despite consistently leading in pre-election polling and serving in the chamber since 2018.
Campaign appearances by Senators Raphael Warnock and Cory Booker reinforced Colom's local…: Campaign appearances by Senators Raphael Warnock and Cory Booker reinforced Colom's local outreach across festivals and public housing.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
The Democrats now have a 55-44 advantage in the 100-member Senate, with the result of the US Senate race in Alaska yet to be determined.
WASHINGTON: Democratic challenger Scott Colom defeated incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith in the Mississippi election for the US Senate, media projected on Wednesday (Nov 11), making him the Southern state's first Black senator since the Reconstruction era that followed the US Civil War.
The result was a stunning upset in the heavily Republican state and expanded on the national drubbing the Democrats delivered to President Donald Trump's Republicans in the Nov 3 midterm elections.
The Mississippi victory gives the Democrats a 55-44 advantage in the 100-member Senate, with the winner in one Senate race from last week's election - in Alaska - yet to be determined. The Democrats have also gained 41 seats in the House of Representatives so far, holding an advantage of 254 to 168 with 13 races yet to be called.
In losing control of both chambers, Trump faces a Democratic-controlled Congress for the first time in either of his two terms, presenting…
Faced with mounting public discontent over severe living costs, Bola Ahmed Tinubu is staking his second-term bid on promises of rapid economic expansion and substantial job creation. While major international financial bodies endorsed his earlier structural reforms, persistent inflation on essential staples has alienated many citizens. His ability to secure another term hinges on convincing an increasingly strained electorate that recent macroeconomic gains will translate into tangible household relief.
Alexander Darchiev passed away unexpectedly at age 66 in Moscow after serving 18 months as the Kremlin's top envoy in Washington. His tenure coincided with strained ties fueled by the war in Ukraine and the return of President Donald Trump. Russian officials lauded his diplomatic service, though authorities have not released details regarding the cause of death.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced an unexpected intervention by military personnel during a visit to Arlington National Cemetery. While touring the historic landmark with a group of personal guests, site security enforced strict decorum rules typically observed by all visitors. The incident drew attention due to the high-profile nature of the defense chief being formally corrected by an active-duty sentinel.