# Mississippi's Political Shift: Scott Colom Wins Historic Election > Scott Colom, Mississippi's first Black statewide elected official since Reconstruction, wins historic Senate seat amid racial tensions and political transformation. - Title: Mississippi's Political Shift: Scott Colom Wins Historic… - Summary: Scott Colom, Mississippi's first Black statewide elected official since Reconstruction, wins historic Senate seat amid racial tensions and political… - Keywords: scott colom, mississippi, reconstruction, democratic senator, racial tensions, political shift, election results, black elected officials, mississippi politics, political transformation, Vanity Fair - Source: Vanity Fair — https://vanityfair.com/story/scott-colom-mississippi-essay - Author: Claire Howorth - Published: 2026-11-13T17:18:58.027+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: scott colom, mississippi, reconstruction, democratic senator, racial tensions, political shift, election results, black elected officials, mississippi politics, political transformation ## Scott Colom's Historic Victory Scott Colom becomes Mississippi's first Black elected official since Reconstruction and the state's first Democratic senator in nearly half a century. > Mississippi is not who you think we are. ## Historical Context of Mississippi Mississippi has a legacy of extreme racial violence, with historical figures like Medgar Evers and the Freedom Summer activists murdered. ## Political Strategy and Campaign Colom built a viral campaign with his twin brother, using creative tactics like 'Sheeeeit' and Fannie Lou Hamer's music. ## Racial Tensions and Recent Incidents White students at the University of Mississippi made racist gestures toward Black neighbors, drawing national attention. ## Historical Political Shifts Mississippi's political landscape shifted from segregation academies to modern campaigns, with Black political engagement growing. ## Kiese Laymon's Perspective Kiese Laymon, a Mississippi author, noted Colom's campaign strategy as a sign of hope for political change in the state. ## Historical Legacy of Violence Mississippi has a history of racial violence, including the murders of Medgar Evers, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner. ## Political Strategy and Campaign Colom's campaign focused on racial equity and economic opportunity, with support from Kamala Harris and Black voters. ## Racial Tensions and Recent Incidents White students at the University of Mississippi made racist gestures toward Black neighbors, drawing national attention. ## Historical Political Shifts Mississippi's political landscape shifted from segregation academies to modern campaigns, with Black political engagement growing. ## Kiese Laymon's Perspective Kiese Laymon, a Mississippi author, noted Colom's campaign strategy as a sign of hope for political change in the state. ## Historical Legacy of Violence Mississippi has a history of racial violence, including the murders of Medgar Evers, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner. ## Political Strategy and Campaign Colom built a viral campaign with his twin brother, using creative tactics like 'Sheeeeit' and Fannie Lou Hamer's music. ## Racial Tensions and Recent Incidents White students at the University of Mississippi made racist gestures toward Black neighbors, drawing national attention. ## Historical Political Shifts Mississippi's political landscape shifted from segregation academies to modern campaigns, with Black political engagement growing. ## Kiese Laymon's Perspective Kiese Laymon, a Mississippi author, noted Colom's campaign strategy as a sign of hope for political change in the state. ## Key takeaway Scott Colom becomes Mississippi's first Black elected official since Reconstruction, signaling a political shift while racial tensions persist.