Scott Colom Wins Mississippi's Senate Race. Hyde-Smith Concedes.

[UPDATE, Nov. 12] Hyde-Smith conceded Wednesday evening, and the AP projected Colom the winner, WLBT reports. This story has been updated.

[CONFIRMED] The concession. Hyde-Smith called Colom to concede and posted a video statement Wednesday, WAPT reports. "While this is not the outcome we worked for or hoped for, I respect the decision of Mississippi voters," she said. "An election may come to an end, but our commitment to Mississippi never will." Colom's campaign said he told her, "God bless you and thank you, senator."

[CONFIRMED] The call. CNN projected Colom the winner Wednesday afternoon, when he led by 4,585 votes in the AP count, the Mississippi Free Press reported. The AP has since projected him the winner, according to WLBT. Counties must certify their results by Friday, Nov. 13.

[CONFIRMED] The history. Colom will be Mississippi's first Black U.S. senator since Blanche K. Bruce, whose term ended in 1881, and the first Democrat the state has elected to the Senate since 1982. Hyde-Smith blocked his nomination to a federal judgeship. "It's my job to make sure I make it easier for the next Black boy or girl that has the work ethic," Colom told WAPT.

[CONTEXT] About 230,000 Mississippi registrations were inactive by Election Day after the state used credit-bureau data to flag voters who may have moved, and many of those voters had to cast affidavit ballots. Read: 230,000 Inactive Voters. One Undecided Senate Race.

[COMMENTARY] For 145 years, the state with the largest Black share of its population did not send a Black senator to Washington. It took every lawful ballot, counted to the last one, to end that. Watch the next fight: who gets counted next time.

Notice the pattern. Interrupt it.

— Latisha Sky, Prodigal Breaking News

Sources: WAPT, "Hyde-Smith concedes Mississippi Senate race to Scott Colom" (Nov. 11, 2026); WLBT, "'I respect the decision': Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith concedes defeat to Scott Colom" (Nov. 11, 2026); Mississippi Free Press (Nov. 11, 2026); WAPT, "CNN calls the race" (Nov. 11, 2026); WLBT (Nov. 9, 2026).

Photo: Scott Colom at a campaign press conference.