In Mississippi, Colom's lead in the Senate election grows to 1,138 votes

In Mississippi, Democrat Scott Colom has extended his lead in the Senate election. According to the results table at ABC News, Colom had 464,926 votes or 49.0 percent, Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith 463,788 or 48.9 percent. That is a gap of 1,138 votes, with about 96 percent of the expected votes. The table was last updated on 5 November 2026 at 4:28 CET. The broadcaster WLBT gives the same figures (as of 1:00 CET); there, independent Ty Pinkins had 19,934 votes. This is a preliminary interim count, not a final result.

On Wednesday morning local time, the gap had still been 43 votes, and later 65 according to ABC News. The broadcaster WDAM also reports the lead of 1,138 votes and says the race is still too close to call.

The news agency AP has not called the race. According to the office of the Secretary of State, cited by ABC News and WDAM, about 3,600 mail ballots have not yet been counted. In addition, there is an unknown number of affidavit ballots. Colom's team speaks of up to 15,000; the office of the Secretary of State gives no firm figure. Mail ballots may arrive until 10 November; according to WDAM, the counties will continue counting from Thursday morning. According to ABC News, the deadline for certification is 13 November.

Mississippi has no automatic or requested recount. According to ABC News, after certification a candidate can have the ballots examined and go to court. According to WLBT, Colom said he expects to win. According to WLBT, Hyde-Smith's team said it was confident once all valid votes are counted. Neither of the two has conceded.

Mississippi is not one of the seven core races. The count on the Senate page assigns the seat to the Republicans; the race does not change the projected Democratic majority. More on the timing under counting.