Democrat seals historic win in Mississippi Senate race

Résumé détaillé

Democrat Scott Colom has won his US Senate race in traditionally conservative Mississippi, networks have projected, making him the first African-American elected to the chamber…

Democrat Scott Colom has won his US Senate race in traditionally conservative Mississippi, networks have projected, making him the first African-American elected to the chamber from the southern state in more than 140 years.

Mr Colom, a 43-year-old district attorney, prevailed over Republican incumbent Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith in perhaps the most extraordinary seat flip of an already extraordinary US midterm election, in which Democrats crushed the Republicans to reclaim the majority in both chambers of Congress.

Mr Colom's win in the Deep South adds sting to the stunning rebuke of US President Donald Trump as voters around the country shunned his Republican Party, even in states that had not sent a Democrat to Washington in decades.

The latest win, called yesterday by US news outlets that included CNN, NBC and CBS, will give Democrats 55 seats in the 100-member Senate, with 44 for Republicans and one race - in the state of Alaska - still outstanding.

Ms Hyde-Smith, in office since 2018, conceded the race in a video posted to X.

"While this is not the outcome we worked for or hoped for, I respect the decision of Mississippi voters," the 67-year-old senator said. "I want to congratulate Scott Colom and wish him well as he takes on the tremendous responsibility of representing our great state."

The race in ruby red Mississippi went down to the wire - a surprise for many observers who doubted the scale of the Democratic blue wave riding on mounting anger over Mr Trump's harsh immigration policy, the war in Iran and rising costs of living.

CNN called it for Mr Colom, eight days after election night, with about 99% of the vote in and the Democrat ahead of Ms Hyde-Smith by 49.2% to 48.7%, a difference of 4,585 votes.

"Blue Mississippi is here," the US Senate's top Democrat Chuck Schumer proclaimed on X after the projections came in.

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