The Mississippi Senate race remains undecided Thursday, November 5, as Democratic challenger Scott Colom maintains a narrow lead over Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith, with thousands of ballots still awaiting processing.
The latest available results show Colom with 466,689 votes, or approximately 49%, compared with Hyde-Smith’s 464,871 votes, or approximately 48.9%. Independent candidate Ty Pinkins has received approximately 20,000 votes. More than 95% of the expected vote has been reported, according to Decision Desk HQ’s latest available results.
Colom’s lead has shifted as additional counties report their totals, but neither candidate has secured an official victory. The Associated Press has not called the race.
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The contest has drawn national attention because a Democratic victory would break a decades-long Republican hold on Mississippi’s U.S. Senate representation. The last Democrat to win a Mississippi Senate election was John Stennis in 1982.
Thousands Of Ballots Could Still Affect The Outcome
Mississippi election officials are continuing to process outstanding absentee ballots and affidavit ballots.
According to local reporting by WDAM, approximately 3,600 absentee-by-mail ballots remain outstanding. An additional number of affidavit ballots must also be reviewed before officials can determine which votes are eligible to be included in the final count.
Affidavit ballots are similar to provisional ballots used in other states. They are cast when election officials cannot immediately confirm a voter’s eligibility. Voters who cast these ballots must complete the required verification process for their votes to count.
Voters who cast qualifying affidavit ballots have until November 10 to provide the necessary documentation. Mail ballots must meet Mississippi’s postmark and arrival requirements.
Mississippi’s Secretary of State Michael Watson has said counties have until November 13 to submit their certified election results.
Mississippi Does Not Have An Automatic Recount Process
The narrow margin has also raised questions about what happens if the final results remain separated by only a handful of votes.
Unlike many states, Mississippi does not have an automatic recount provision for statewide elections. Candidates also cannot simply request a recount because the margin is close.
According to ABC News, the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office confirmed that state law does not provide a formal process for candidates to request a recount. A court would have to order one.
Mississippi Today has also reported that state election law does not clearly establish a process for contesting the results of a general election for U.S. Senate.
That legal uncertainty could become significant if either campaign challenges how outstanding ballots are processed or raises concerns about the final count.
Colom’s campaign has deployed attorneys across Mississippi to monitor ballot counting and election procedures. The Democratic challenger has publicly emphasized his campaign’s commitment to protecting the integrity of the election.
A Potentially Historic Political Shift
Colom’s performance has put a traditionally Republican state at the center of the national Senate conversation.
Mississippi has not elected a Democratic U.S. senator since 1982, and Hyde-Smith entered the election as the incumbent Republican.
A Colom victory would also carry historic significance for Black political representation in Mississippi. The state was represented by Hiram Revels, the first Black U.S. senator, during Reconstruction. Colom’s election would mark a new chapter in that history.
For now, the focus remains on the outstanding ballots, county certification process and whether the final margin will trigger legal challenges.
Until election officials complete the count and certify the results, the Mississippi Senate race remains unresolved.
