Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Nov 12: Democrat Scott Colom has defeated Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi's closely contested US Senate race, becoming the state's first Black senator since the Reconstruction era following the American Civil War.
The Associated Press declared Colom the winner on Wednesday after election officials completed several days of counting absentee and provisional ballots, known in Mississippi as affidavit ballots. Hyde-Smith conceded defeat in a video message, congratulating her Democratic rival and acknowledging the voters' decision.
"While this is not the outcome we worked for or hoped for, I respect the decision of Mississippi voters," Hyde-Smith said, wishing Colom well as he prepares to represent the state in the US Senate. Her spokesperson confirmed that she had also called Colom to congratulate him and concede the election.
Colom, 43, is a local prosecutor who built his campaign around economic concerns, voter representation and the need for greater accountability from elected representatives. His victory is particularly significant in Mississippi, which has the highest proportion of Black residents among US states but has remained predominantly Republican in recent decades.
The last Democrat elected to represent Mississippi in the US Senate was in 1947, and he was a staunch segregationist. During his campaign, Colom emphasised that he wanted to represent people from all communities, including rural, suburban and urban areas.
His campaign focused on rising living costs, agricultural concerns and policies pursued by President Donald Trump, particularly tariffs and the war involving Iran. He also criticised Hyde-Smith's response to concerns over high beef prices, using the issue in campaign advertisements to appeal to voters.
Rather than concentrating on personal attacks against Trump, Colom directed much of his criticism towards Hyde-Smith, questioning her representation of Mississippi in Washington. During Trump's campaign rally in Corinth in late October, Colom interacted with supporters waiting outside the venue and spoke to them about his priorities. Hyde-Smith, meanwhile, praised Trump during the event.
The Senate contest had initially been considered a difficult race for Democrats. However, Colom's campaign gradually attracted national attention and financial backing from Democratic leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Democratic Senators Raphael Warnock of Georgia and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland also urged party leaders and donors to support his campaign.
Former President Bill Clinton campaigned alongside Colom shortly before the election, while former Vice President Kamala Harris also extended her support. Following the victory, Clinton congratulated Colom, while Schumer described the campaign as an effort that had expanded the possibilities for Democrats in the American South.
Colom's victory also carries significance in the context of Mississippi's civil rights history. During his campaign, he featured in an advertisement filmed at the Jackson home of Medgar Evers, the civil rights leader who was assassinated outside his residence in 1963 for his activism in advancing voting rights and racial equality.
Colom urged voters to honour those who had fought for their democratic rights and stressed that nobody should be above the law or excluded from its protection.
His victory could also influence discussions within the Democratic Party about electoral opportunities in Southern states with significant Black populations. Mississippi has traditionally supported Republican candidates in presidential elections, with Trump winning the state by nearly 23 percentage points in 2024.
Hyde-Smith was appointed to the Senate in 2018 by then-Governor Phil Bryant following the resignation of Republican Senator Thad Cochran. She subsequently won a special election runoff that year and secured a full term in 2020, defeating Democratic candidate Mike Espy.
Espy was Mississippi's first Black congressman since Reconstruction. Colom's election now marks another historic milestone, bringing a Black representative to the state's Senate delegation for the first time since the Reconstruction era.