Scott Colom Wins Mississippi Senate Race, First Democrat Since 1980s

Democrat Scott Colom has been elected to the U.S. Senate in Mississippi, defeating incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith in a race that flips a seat in a state that has not sent a Democrat to the chamber since the 1980s. The Associated Press called the race for Colom on Wednesday, more than a week after Election Day, following a contest that remained deadlocked until the final weeks of October.

“I had the courage to believe in Mississippi,” Colom said in his victory speech. He referenced Revels’ own path to office. “That’s an example of the power of prayer, and through our history, there are so many people that lifted this state up through the power of prayer in very dark times,” Colom told the audience.

Analysts point to a successful mobilization of young voters and the state’s Black population as a decisive factor in the outcome, the BBC reported. Students at Jackson State University, a historically Black college, played a visible role in the campaign. “I really feel like a change is what we need,” 18-year-old voter Jamyria Dunn told the BBC.

The campaign gained national attention in its final weeks due to a viral advertisement featuring Russ Hudson, an Army veteran. In the spot, Hudson mocked a suggestion from Hyde-Smith that Mississippians should substitute their protein choices to combat rising food costs. “Shee-it,” Hudson said in the ad, according to The New York Times. “I’d rather pick another senator, instead.”

Hudson, 35, volunteered for the role after his father declined to use profanity in the script. The ad became a defining element of the campaign’s momentum, with Hudson noting that he never expected the video to reach a global audience. “A lot of people don’t know much about Mississippi,” Hudson told The New York Times. “And look at us now. We’re worldwide.”

Hyde-Smith acknowledged the result in a video posted to X, stating that she respected the decision of the voters. “While this is not the outcome we worked for or hoped for, I respect the decision of Mississippi voters,” Hyde-Smith said, as reported by Fox News. “I want to congratulate Scott Colom and wish him well as he takes on the tremendous responsibility of representing our great state.”

The win pushes the Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate to 55 seats, with Republicans holding 44. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Kirsten Gillibrand issued a joint statement congratulating Colom on his “historic win,” according to Fox News.

Earlier coverage: Scott Colom Elected to US Senate, Ending 145-Year African American Absence