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Vol. 3 · No. 313 Every side. Side by side. Monday, November 9, 2026
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Mississippi Senate race uncalled as Colom holds slim lead

CBS News and WREG report Democrat Scott Colom still leads Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi’s unresolved U.S. Senate race, with remaining ballots and preservation disputes still outstanding.

By AI reporterPRESSElena Marsh · WhatsNewPaper Desk
What's new
  1. Mississippi Free Press, Mississippi Today and 4 more are now reporting this
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JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi’s U.S. Senate race remained uncalled on Monday, with Democrat Scott Colom still ahead of Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith as counties finished processing remaining ballots1,11.

WREG reported Colom’s lead at more than 2,500 votes, while DeSoto County officials prepared to count affidavit and mail-in ballots this week11. CBS News likewise said the contest in a Republican-leaning state had not been resolved1.

Earlier last week the margin was thinner. CNBC reported Colom ahead by 1,813 votes on Thursday as both campaigns prepared for disputes over remaining ballots2. Mississippi Today described the race as too close to call in a state long viewed as a Republican stronghold4.

Hyde-Smith’s lawyers sent a letter to election commissioners and circuit clerks in all 82 counties asking them to keep affidavit ballots separate from regular and absentee ballots, document each ballot’s disposition, and preserve related records5,6. The letter cited possible later review, including an election contest, and did not say a lawsuit had been filed5.

Mississippi Republican Party Chairman Mike Hurst said there could be about 20,000 outstanding ballots, including mail absentee and affidavit ballots, and that more than 50 attorneys and observers had been sent around the state5. "This election is far from being over," Hurst said5.

Colom’s campaign told the same counties the requested steps were unlawful2,6. Its letter said there is no authority to keep accepted affidavit ballots separate from other counted ballots and warned that doing so could undermine ballot secrecy6. Campaign manager Gerard Henderson said, "We're confident that when every lawful ballot is counted, Scott Colom will be Mississippi's next U.S. senator"5.

The Mississippi Free Press reported that in Lafayette County, home of the University of Mississippi, 207 affidavit ballots broke 142-60 for Colom, a wider split than the county’s overall Senate result3. The outlet said similar affidavit patterns elsewhere would make it harder for Hyde-Smith to overtake the lead if as many as 20,000 votes remained outstanding statewide3.

Secretary of State Michael Watson told WREG that affidavit ballots serve as a safety net for errors in voter-roll maintenance and that accurate lists speed the process11. What remains unknown is the final certified tally, how many remaining ballots will be accepted, and whether either campaign will file a formal contest after certification5,11.

Sources

  1. CBS NewsMississippi Senate race still a toss-up; Democrat holds slim lead
  2. CNBCMississippi Senate: Colom, Hyde-Smith gird for ballot legal fight in razor-thin race
  3. Mississippi Free PressLafayette County’s Affidavit Ballots Break for Scott Colom 69%-29%, Far Exceeding His Overall Margin
  4. Mississippi TodayMississippi GOP chair vows to ‘fight like hell’ in Senate midterm vote counting
  5. WAPTMississippi counties asked to preserve ballots for Hyde-Smith challenge
  1. WLBT 3Colom campaign calls Hyde-Smith’s affidavit ballot separation, preservation demand ‘unlawful attack on voter privacy’
  2. West Virginia WatchSen. Justice, mulling WV governor run, will soon be in Senate minority caucus after election results
  3. ABC NewsWATCH: James Talarico addresses supporters after projected win in Texas Senate race
  4. BBCJames Talarico becomes first Democrat to win Texas Senate seat since 1988
  5. Al JazeeraRepublicans fuming after Democrat Talarico flips Texas Senate blue
  6. WREGColom leads Hyde-Smith as MS Senate race remains uncalled

Read the original at CBS News ↗

How it’s being reported

12 sources

First reported by The VergeThe Verge

CBS NewsCNBCMississippi Free PressMississippi TodayWAPTWLBT 3

Where they agree

  • The Mississippi Senate race between Colom and Hyde-Smith has not been called.
  • Colom has led in incomplete counts.
  • Campaigns have clashed over how counties should handle remaining affidavit ballots.

Where they differ

Whether counties must store counted affidavit ballots separately

How large the remaining ballot pool is

Side by side

Each outlet's article broken down by our newsroom, in our own words. To read what they wrote, use the button under each one.

CBS NewsCBS News

Mississippi Senate race still a toss-up; Democrat holds slim lead

That a deep-red state race is still uncalled days after Election Day.

Reports the Mississippi Senate contest remains unresolved, with Democrat Scott Colom still running a close race against Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith.

Leaves out County-level affidavit ballot splits and the competing lawyers’ letters.

That a deep-red state race is still uncalled days after Election Day.

What it reports

  • The Senate race in Mississippi has not been called.
  • Democrat Scott Colom is challenging Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith.
  • CBS describes Colom’s showing as unexpectedly competitive in a Republican-leaning state.

Leaves out County-level affidavit ballot splits and the competing lawyers’ letters.

Read the original at CBS News Read the full article at CBS News
CNBCCNBC

Mississippi Senate: Colom, Hyde-Smith gird for ballot legal fight in razor-thin race

Campaign legal letters and a thin vote margin earlier in the week.

Describes a possible legal fight over remaining ballots after Hyde-Smith’s campaign asked counties to separate provisional ballots.

Leaves out Monday’s larger reported lead and DeSoto County counting plans.

Campaign legal letters and a thin vote margin earlier in the week.

What it reports

  • On Thursday Colom’s lead was reported at 1,813 votes.
  • Colom’s lawyers told counties the Republican demands were unlawful and extraordinary.

Leaves out Monday’s larger reported lead and DeSoto County counting plans.

Read the original at CNBC Read the full article at CNBC

Same copy also at: CNBC

Mississippi Free PressMississippi Free Press

Lafayette County’s Affidavit Ballots Break for Scott Colom 69%-29%, Far Exceeding His Overall Margin

One county’s affidavit split and how similar patterns could affect the statewide count.

Reports Lafayette County affidavit ballots favored Colom far more than the county’s overall Senate result.

Leaves out Hyde-Smith’s preservation letter and Colom’s legal reply.

One county’s affidavit split and how similar patterns could affect the statewide count.

What it reports

  • Lafayette County counted 207 affidavit ballots in the Senate race.
  • Colom received 142 of those votes, Hyde-Smith 60, and independent Ty Pinkins 5.
  • The outlet said as many as 20,000 votes remained outstanding statewide, many of them affidavit ballots.

Leaves out Hyde-Smith’s preservation letter and Colom’s legal reply.

Read the original at Mississippi Free Press Read the full article at Mississippi Free Press
Mississippi TodayMississippi Today

Mississippi GOP chair vows to ‘fight like hell’ in Senate midterm vote counting

Republican messaging on unfinished counting in a traditionally Republican state.

Covers the state GOP chair’s comments as campaigns prepared for a close remaining count.

Leaves out Lafayette County affidavit percentages.

Republican messaging on unfinished counting in a traditionally Republican state.

What it reports

  • The race remained too close to call later in the week.
  • The margin was described as razor-thin in a Republican stronghold.
  • State GOP Chair Mike Hurst vowed a hard fight over remaining votes.

Leaves out Lafayette County affidavit percentages.

Read the original at Mississippi Today Read the full article at Mississippi Today
WAPTWAPT

Mississippi counties asked to preserve ballots for Hyde-Smith challenge

Preservation steps and possible later contest, not a filed lawsuit.

Details Hyde-Smith’s request that all 82 counties secure affidavit ballots and document how each is handled.

Leaves out Lafayette County’s affidavit breakdown.

Preservation steps and possible later contest, not a filed lawsuit.

What it reports

  • The Hyde-Smith campaign asked counties to store affidavit ballots apart from other ballots.
  • Hurst said more than 50 attorneys and observers were dispatched around the state.
  • The letter does not announce that a lawsuit has been filed.

Leaves out Lafayette County’s affidavit breakdown.

Read the original at WAPT Read the full article at WAPT
WLBT 3WLBT 3

Colom campaign calls Hyde-Smith’s affidavit ballot separation, preservation demand ‘unlawful attack on voter privacy’

The legal dispute over how affidavit ballots must be stored after they are accepted.

Reports Colom’s lawyers told counties that separating counted affidavit ballots would violate state law and ballot secrecy.

Leaves out Updated Monday vote margins.

The legal dispute over how affidavit ballots must be stored after they are accepted.

What it reports

  • Colom’s team said there is no legal authority to keep accepted affidavit ballots separate from other counted ballots.
  • The campaign argued separate handling could undermine the secrecy of a voter’s ballot.
  • Hurst said the preservation letter was standard for an election this close.

Leaves out Updated Monday vote margins.

Read the original at WLBT 3 Read the full article at WLBT 3