The Mississippi Senate race between Scott Colom and GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith was too close to call as of Nov. 5, 2026. Absentee and affidavit ballots remained outstanding, and Mississippi has no recount process, so challenges are left to litigation.
As of Nov. 5, 2026, the Mississippi Senate race between Scott Colom and GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith was too close to call. Votes were still being counted in the contest. A Democrat has not won a Mississippi Senate race since 1982, when John Stennis won his last reelection.
Watson said 3,600 absentee ballots were outstanding, along with an unknown number of affidavit ballots. According to the Colom campaign, there are more than 15,000 outstanding affidavits statewide.
Mississippi has no recount process, so election challenges are left to litigation.
