Colom extends lead over Hyde-Smith with thousands of affidavit and mail-in absentee ballots to be counted

Colom extends lead over Hyde-Smith with.

Key points

• Lawmakers, Governor expect higher revenues, adopt $7.8 billion estimated revenue for Fiscal Year 2028.
• The Democrat is now ahead of the Republican incumbent by 1, 138 votes in Mississippi's U.S.
• According to the Secretary of State's office, almost 3, 600 mail-in absentee ballots are outstanding.
• Governor Tate Reeves (R) weighed in on the race Wednesday, telling WLBT that he was confident Hyde-Smith would win.
• Special elections in Mississippi House Districts 70 and 77 head to runoffs.

Colom extends lead over Hyde-Smith with thousands of affidavit and mail-in absentee ballots to be counted. By: Frank Corder – November 5, 2026. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Scott Colom.

Meanwhile, the Democrat is now ahead of the Republican incumbent by 1, 138 votes in Mississippi's U.S. Senate race.

Scott Colom extended his lead over incumbent U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith late Wednesday night.

According to the Secretary of State's office, almost 3, 600 mail-in absentee ballots are outstanding. Furthermore, unconfirmed reports of upwards of 18, 000 affidavit ballots remain to be cured around the state.

Colom held a brief press conference Wednesday morning expressing confidence in his campaign's path to victory.

"We're going to make sure that the process follows the law, and we have integrity, " Colom remarked. "Now, I think that anybody who can look at the math should be able to know where this is going. It's going to Scott Colom as the next United States Senator."

If Colom wins, he would be the first Democrat elected to represent Mississippi in the U.S. Senate since 1982 and the first black Senator from Mississippi since Republican Blanche Bruce in 1881.

PunchBowlNews documented Wednesday that shortly to be Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called Colom "and is sending resources (legal and otherwise) down to Mississippi via the DSCC to help with the remaining vote-counting process there."

As the outlet observed, Colom is a Schumer recruit, noting that "Schumer has long been fixated on flipping Mississippi."

As for Hyde-Smith's campaign, manager Jake Monssen published a statement saying, "Mississippians turned out in robust numbers yesterday, and the race for U.S. Senate remains extremely close as counting continues."

"With the vast majority of Election Day ballots documented, the margin is measured in just dozens of votes. We have thousands of outstanding ballots, including affidavit and absentee ballots. It still must be processed and verified under Mississippi law, " remarked Monssen. "Our campaign is closely monitoring the remaining count. We remain confident that when every legally cast vote is fully and accurately counted, Mississippians will have reelected Cindy Hyde-Smith."

"The reality is, it was only two short years ago when President Trump won every swing state and so, in today's world, political cycles can change very quickly and we as a state and we as a party are gonna have to certainly analyze what led to this moment and improve and get better which is always the case, " Reeves remarked.

Notably, the Independent candidate in the Senate race on Wednesday as well, appearing on CNN and claiming that he played spoiler to Hyde-Smith rather than Colom as Democrats feared.

"I think what we did in this race as an independent campaign we did the opposite of a spoiler, " Ty Pinkins informed CNN. "If you look at the data coming out of this race, 77% of our votes came from traditionally Republican counties in Mississippi. Twelve of the top 13 vote getting counties we obtained were red counties." Pinkins states he played spoiler to Hyde-Smith, not Colom.

Pinkins remarked polling mid-year demonstrated 70% of those voting for him as an independent were traditional Republican voters.

"What we were thinking when we were going into that race, we saw the same thing, " he remarked, adding, "70% of my voters were Republicans and that would benefit Scott Colom and that's what you see now." Concerning the Author(s).

Frank Corder is a native of Pascagoula. For almost two decades, he has noted and offered analysis on administration, public policy, business and matters of faith. Frank's interviews, articles, and columns have been shared throughout Mississippi as well as in national publications. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, providing insight and commentary on the inner workings of the Magnolia State. Frank has served his community in both elected and appointed public office, hosted his own local radio and television programs, and managed private businesses all while being an engaged husband and father. Email Frank: [email protected].

Elections Associated Press November 4, 2026.

Speaker Mike Johnson won't seek reelection as House GOP leader and other national midterm election news.

As voters rejected the president's party for the promise of something different, in a nationwide romp, Democrats ousted Republicans from coast to coast, with plenty of surprising places in between. Democrats' majorities will be padded by wide margins in both the House and the Senate. More From This Author. Elections Frank Corder November 4, 2026.

Mississippi Democrats seek injunctive relief for alleged voting problems in DeSoto County. Elections Frank Corder November 4, 2026. Too close to call. Elections Frank Corder November 4, 2026.

Special elections in Mississippi House Districts 70 and 77 head to runoffs. Elections Frank Corder November 5, 2026. Pinkins notes he played spoiler to Hyde-Smith, not Colom. Elections Frank Corder November 3, 2026. Incumbent Mississippi Congressmen win re-election.

All four Mississippi incumbent Congressmen, three of which are Republicans, won their re-election bids Tuesday night despite a blue wave that swept throughout the U.S. Elections Frank Corder November 3, 2026. Mississippi Votes: 2026 midterm election updates and results.

Magnolia Tribune is tracking the latest Election Day news, information and results as voters go to the polls in Mississippi. Follow here and check back throughout the day for the latest on the November 3 midterm election. News Magnolia Tribune November 5, 2026. Magnolia Mornings: November 5, 2026. News Jeremy Pittari November 4, 2026.

Lawmakers, Governor expect higher revenues, adopt $7.8 billion estimated revenue for Fiscal Year 2028. News Michelle L. Cost, Associated Press November 4, 2026.

Vance tries to distance himself from Iran war after GOP's deep losses in midterm elections. Business Meredith Biesinger October 22, 2026. New Albany's claim to cake fame: Sugaree's Bakery. Business Frank Corder October 20, 2026. Fairbanks Morse Defense doubling manufacturing capacity at its Pascagoula facility. Business Cass Rutledge October 20, 2026. Lumber manufacturer investing $8.3 million in Macon expansion. Culture Alistair Begg November 5, 2026. Peace that is feasible. Culture Alistair Begg November 4, 2026. At home in Christ. Culture Marisa Atkinson November 3, 2026. 'Are You Ready?!' Hotty Toddy turns 100.

Opinion Russ Latino November 4, 2026.

Democrats took Republicans behind the woodshed. The GOP has only itself to blame. Opinion Sid Salter November 4, 2026.

Like other tax proposals, California voters on Nov. 3 test-drove a tax on billionaires. Opinion Russ Latino November 3, 2026. A time for choosing: America's future is bigger than one election.

In short, colom extends lead over Hyde-Smith with thousands of affidavit and mail-in absentee is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.