Scott Colom Makes History as Mississippi’s First Black Senator Since 1881

Democrat Scott Colom has won the US Senate race in Mississippi, securing a historic victory for his party in a state that has elected Republicans for decades.

His victory makes him the first Black person from Mississippi to serve in the US Senate since Blanche Bruce, who held the seat from 1875 to 1881.

Colom, 43, defeated Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith by fewer than 5,000 votes out of nearly one million counted.

He secured 49.2% of the vote, compared with Hyde-Smith’s 48.7%. The Republican senator conceded on Wednesday evening, congratulating Colom and wishing him well.

“While this was not the outcome we worked for or hoped for, I respect the decision of Mississippi voters,” she said in a video posted on X.

The result was particularly unexpected because Mississippi had not been considered competitive. President Donald Trump won the state by more than 22 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election.

Celebrations After Historic Victory

Colom delivered his victory speech at Tougaloo College, where hundreds of cheering supporters gathered to celebrate the result.

Thanking those who supported his campaign through several days of waiting after the 4 November election, he said he had maintained his faith despite doubts about his chances.

“They did not believe a moment like this was possible, but I kept the faith,” Colom said.

He also credited local supporters for the victory, saying: “It’s not something that I did y’all. It’s something we did.”

Celebrations also took place at the Mississippi headquarters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in Jackson.

The announcement prompted loud applause and cheers from supporters gathered at the office.

NAACP board chairman Leon Russell described the result as an amazing achievement, crediting the Black community’s organising efforts.

“This is a historic election,” he said.

Amber Thomas, who was among those celebrating, said she was overwhelmed with joy, adding: “When you fight, you win.”

A Campaign That Challenged Expectations

Colom’s campaign focused on reaching voters across political divides. He even attended a Trump rally to speak with Republican supporters waiting in line.

He also used an exchange involving Hyde-Smith to attract attention. When asked about rising beef prices, the Republican senator reportedly told voters to “pick another protein”. Colom turned the remark into a viral campaign advert.

The Democrat, a local prosecutor, also capitalised on dissatisfaction with the Republican Party over economic concerns, including the impact of Trump’s tariffs and the war with Iran, according to exit polls.

He criticised Hyde-Smith’s support for Trump’s tariffs and gave her the nickname “Cindy High Prices”.

Colom campaigned across all 82 counties in Mississippi.

Hyde-Smith’s campaign, meanwhile, accused him of being a puppet of billionaire liberal donor George Soros, whose family has helped fund Democratic political campaigns. The Republican was also criticised during the contest for making relatively few public appearances.

Democrats Make Gains in Midterm Elections

Colom’s victory forms part of a series of significant Democratic gains in the midterm elections.

The result brings the Democrats’ Senate total to 55 seats out of 100, while a closely contested race in Alaska remains undecided.

Democrats have also taken control of the US House of Representatives, according to the election results reported in the article.

The party has flipped Senate seats in traditionally Republican states, including Texas, South Carolina, Kansas and Iowa.

Colom’s victory marks a major political milestone for Mississippi, more than a century after Blanche Bruce became the state’s last Black US senator.