As of the latest count, Scott Colom, the Democratic nominee and local district attorney, is leading incumbent Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by 2,607 votes, representing a narrow margin of 0.27 percentage points with approximately 97% of the votes counted. This election is critical as it is one of only two Senate races yet to be called, with Mississippi having not elected a Democratic senator since 1982.
The outcome could further solidify the Democrats' control of the Senate, which has already flipped seven Republican-held seats, giving them at least 54 seats in the upcoming session. Additionally, if Colom wins, he would make history as the first Black senator from Mississippi since the Reconstruction Era.
Meanwhile, in Alaska, Democratic nominee Mary Peltola is also in a tight race against incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, with a margin of just 1.1 percentage points. The results of these elections are crucial as they may influence the balance of power in the Senate, particularly if neither candidate in Alaska secures over 50% of the vote, leading to a ranked-choice voting scenario