Democrat Scott Colom wins Mississippi Senate seat

Democrat wins Mississippi Senate

Scott Colom narrowly defeated incumbent Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, becoming Mississippi's first Democratic senator since John Stennis won his last term in 1982.

How Colom became a contender

In 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Colom, a district attorney, to the federal bench. Hyde-Smith blocked the nomination in 2023, citing his opposition to legislation protecting female athletes.

The beef prices moment

In February, a reporter asked Hyde-Smith about rising beef prices.She replied, "You know, you have so many proteins to choose from."

“You know, you have so many proteins to choose from.”

The ad that changed the race

Colom's campaign turned Hyde-Smith's answer into an ad showing Mississippians reacting to it, widely regarded as tipping the scale in his favor. The ad's release was when national Democrats started showing up.

Colom's ground game won it

Colom held events in all 82 Mississippi counties while Hyde-Smith hadn't held a town hall in six years.When Holmes County reported its votes near midnight, its surge in turnout put Colom ahead by 28 votes.

Historic wins in key counties

Colom flipped Forrest County 12,064 to 9,749 and won Jefferson Davis County 2,943 to 1,534. He is Mississippi's first Black senator since Blanche K. Bruce left office in 1881.

Democrats gain Senate power

Colom makes it 55 Democratic Senate seats. If Democrat Mary Peltola holds her narrow lead in Alaska, it's 56. At 56 seats, Democrats need only four Republicans to cross over to pass most legislation.

Republicans ceded affordability

Voters named cost of living and government corruption as their top two issues.Two years earlier, voters worried about the economy broke for Trump by 2 to 1.