CNN Projects Scott Colom to Defeat Cindy Hyde-Smith for US Senate

Scott Colom is projected to defeat Cindy Hyde-Smith to become Mississippi’s next U.S. Senator, according to CNN.

The projection shows state political trends are changing. If confirmed, Colom would become the first Black Senator from Mississippi since the post-Civil War Reconstruction era and the state’s first Democrat to hold the seat since 1982, NBC News reported.

While CNN has made its projection, other major news organizations, including the Associated Press, have not yet called the race. The margin between the candidates remains a central point of contention as various counties continue to report or certify their results.

“At this stage in the vote tally for Mississippi’s U.S. Senate race, a Cindy Hyde-Smith victory is now a mathematically impossibility,” Scott Colom said in a statement issued shortly before the CNN projection, Mississippi Free Press reported.

Scott Colom victory speech after defeating Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi senate race — Roland S. Martin

Colom’s campaign argues that the remaining uncounted ballots cannot bridge the current gap between the candidates. The Mississippi Free Press reported that Colom’s team cited a vote margin of 5,568 votes, based on a combination of Associated Press totals and official results from 24 Mississippi counties that have already certified and uploaded their data to the state’s Statewide Election Management System.

As of 3:58 p.m., the Associated Press reported that Colom held a lead of 4,585 votes. Colom’s team contends that his performance with absentee and affidavit ballots provides a cushion that Hyde-Smith cannot overcome. The campaign highlighted specific instances where Colom’s support in these categories significantly outpaced his Election Day performance.

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In Rankin County, Colom earned 50.1% of affidavit and absentee ballots, a notable increase from the 37.2% he received in Election Day voting. Similarly, in Prentiss County, he captured 42.4% of mail and affidavit ballots compared to 26% on Election Day, Mississippi Free Press reported.

The campaign also pointed to Jackson County, where they claim Colom earned 1,063 affidavit and mail votes to Hyde-Smith’s 1,039. These Jackson County estimates are based on totals that have not yet been reported to the Associated Press.

Scott Colom defeats Cindy Hyde-Smith in historic Mississippi Senate upset — ABC10

In Harrison County, the campaign noted there are 746 affidavit ballots remaining. Colom’s team argues that he only needs to exceed his Election Day vote total of 48% in that county to further strengthen his existing lead.

County	Election Day Vote %	Affidavit/Absentee Vote %
Rankin County	37.2%	50.1%
Prentiss County	26.0%	42.4%
Jackson County	42.5%	N/A (Claimed 1,063 votes)

“The data is clear: Scott Colom will be the next U.S. Senator for Mississippi and his victory is now a guarantee. Cindy Hyde-Smith has no path to win this race and she should concede,” Colom said.

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The transition of power in Mississippi would represent a major departure from the recent political status quo. For decades, the state has been a stronghold for Republican representation in the Senate, making this projected shift a focal point for national political analysts observing the 2026 election cycle.

The race remains in flux as the Associated Press continues to monitor the certification process across the state’s remaining counties.