Mississippi Senate Election Results: Colom Leads as Count Continues, November 8, 2026

Last verified: November 8, 2026, at 04:04 UTC.

Democrat Scott Colom holds a narrow lead over Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi’s November 3 U.S. Senate election, but the race remains too early to call. The result could deliver a historic victory in a reliably Republican state, while the remaining ballots could still change the outcome.

In the latest figures displayed by election-results provider Decision Desk HQ when checked, Colom led by 2,696 votes out of more than 954,000 reported. Those figures were last updated by the provider on November 6 at 7:41 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (UTC−05:00), and are an unofficial snapshot, not a certified result. The Associated Press reported on November 7 that the contest remained uncalled as counties continued examining ballots.

Destaques

• Colom had 49.09% of the reported vote, compared with 48.81% for Hyde-Smith, in Decision Desk HQ’s November 6 update.
• Independent Ty Pinkins had 2.10%; the three candidates’ reported totals exceeded 954,000 votes.
• The number of outstanding ballots is not precisely known. Eligible absentee and affidavit ballots remain central to the count.
• Democrats have already won control of the next U.S. Senate, so Mississippi will affect the size of their majority, not which party controls the chamber.

Who is leading the Mississippi Senate election?

The Decision Desk HQ results page showed the following totals in its November 6 update:

The gap between the top two candidates was about 0.28 percentage points. The provider estimated that more than 95% of the vote had been reported, but that estimate does not establish exactly how many eligible ballots remain or how they will break. Different election desks can show different totals because they collect and update county information at different times.

A lead in an unofficial tally is not the same as a declared victory or a certified result. A news organization calls a race when its analysts conclude that the trailing candidate can no longer plausibly catch up; election officials separately complete the official canvass and certification.

Why is Mississippi’s Senate race taking so long to call?

The margin is small enough that ballots still being received or reviewed could matter. Mississippi does not have a central system for reporting live vote totals, and relatively few counties publish results online, according to the Associated Press’s explanation of the count. AP collects information directly from the state’s 82 counties.

Some outstanding votes are absentee ballots. To be counted, they must be postmarked by Election Day and received within five business days, which AP identifies as November 10 for this election. Other ballots are affidavit ballots, the state’s term for provisional ballots. These can be used when an eligibility question arises at a polling place, such as a voter’s name not appearing on the roll or an identification issue.

Election officials must check whether those ballots qualify before adding them to the count. Voters with identification issues have until November 10 to address them at their local elections office, AP reported. The presence of an affidavit ballot does not by itself establish whether it will be accepted or whom it supports.

What do the results show about Mississippi voters?

The close race is striking for a state that has generally favored Republicans in recent federal elections. Decision Desk HQ’s comparison shows President Donald Trump winning Mississippi by nearly 23 percentage points in 2024, while Republican Senator Roger Wicker won that year’s separate Senate race by nearly 26 points. Those were different contests with different candidates and electorates, so the comparison illustrates the scale of the change rather than proving why individual voters switched.

Colom, a district attorney, would become Mississippi’s first Black U.S. senator since Reconstruction if he wins, according to AP’s reporting on the race. That outcome remains conditional on the outstanding count. Hyde-Smith, the incumbent, also retains a path to victory if the remaining valid ballots favor her sufficiently.

AP reported that some Black voters described concerns about the economy, redistricting and the way racism is taught in schools as motivations. Those accounts help explain parts of the campaign’s context, but the incomplete totals alone cannot establish the relative importance of each issue statewide.

What happens next, and why does it matter in Canada?

Counties have until November 13 to certify complete results to Mississippi’s secretary of state, according to AP. A race call could come before certification if enough reliable information becomes available, but there is no confirmed time for a decision. Mississippi has no automatic statewide recount; AP says recounts require a court order. The campaigns could also pursue legal challenges.

For Canadian readers following U.S. politics, the distinction between this seat and control of the chamber matters. Democrats have already secured the next Senate majority, according to AP, and will have at least 54 seats. Winning Mississippi would add to that margin. Senate control influences which legislation advances and whether presidential appointments are confirmed, although the outcome of any particular trade, border or other policy affecting Canada will depend on later decisions by Congress and the administration.

For the clearest picture as the count proceeds, compare the timestamp on any results page with county updates and the eventual official certification. A changed lead, an election-desk projection and a certified outcome are separate developments.

FAQ

Has Mississippi’s Senate race been called?

No. At the time of verification, AP’s latest reporting said the race was too early to call, with ballots still being examined.

How many votes separate Colom and Hyde-Smith?

Decision Desk HQ’s November 6 update showed Colom ahead by 2,696 votes. The margin can change as additional eligible ballots are counted.

Will Mississippi decide control of the U.S. Senate?

No. Democrats have already won control of the next Senate; the Mississippi result will affect the size of their majority.