Scott Colom Wins Mississippi US Senate Race, Will Be State’s First Black Senator in 146 Years
Scott Colom, a 43-year-old Democrat, will be Mississippi’s next U.S. senator and the first Black senator to represent the state in the U.S. Capitol since 1881.
Keep reading2026 Elections
Liveblog: Mississippi’s 2026 U.S. Senate Election Results
Mississippi election workers are counting ballots amid a tight race between Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democratic challenger Scott Colom.
Keep readingFeatured
CNN Projects Scott Colom to Defeat Cindy Hyde-Smith, Colom Calls on Hyde-Smith to Concede
CNN is projecting that Scott Colom will defeat incumbent U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. Colom is calling on Hyde-Smith to concede the race.
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RECENT News
Scott Colom Is Overperforming Affidavit Ballots in North Mississippi—Even in Hyde-Smith Friendly Counties
Democrat Scott Colom is overperforming among affidavit votes in the race for U.S. Senate in several North Mississippi counties that have completed counting those ballots.
Culture
Photos | ‘The Drag Spectacular’: Coastal Mississippians Celebrate LGBTQ+ Community at Equality Fest
Pride flags waved strongly in the wind as a crowd of people made their way to find seats near the stage ahead of “The Drag Spectacular: A Decade of Diversity” performance at the the 10th-annual Gulf Coast Equality Fest held on Saturday, Oct. 17.
Voices
Democracy | The Original MFP Editor Was Beaten With a Tire Iron. The Work Must Prevail.
Mississippi Free Press CEO and Executive Editor Donna Ladd recounts her Nov. 6, 2026, phone call with former MFP publisher and editor Charlie Butts, who spoke with her about the significance of a free press that sets the stage for future generations.
Award-Winning MFP JournaLism
Mississippi Free Press Awards Roll: 120 Honors for MFP Team, 21 for YMP, Since 2020
As of August 15, 2026, our team is up to 120 national and U.S. regional awards and finalist nods since we launched in late March 2020.
More STORIES
Mississippi Voters More Than Double Absentee Ballot Totals From 2022 Midterms
Absentee voting in Mississippi surged ahead of Tuesday’s national midterm elections, with 116,453 voters casting ballots before Nov. 3, the Mississippi Secretary of State reported…
Mississippi Court Rejects SpaceX’s Bid to Throw Out Suit Alleging Clean Air Act Violations In Southaven
In an Oct. 30 ruling, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi held that the NAACP has statutory standing to bring the…
Live 2026 Election Results: Hyde-Smith v. Colom for US Senate, Other Mississippi and National Races
Results for the 2026 U.S. Senate and U.S. House elections will go live from the Associated Press on Tuesday evening. Polls close in Mississippi at…
Photos | Bill Clinton Garners Support for Scott Colom at Tupelo Rally
Former President Bill Clinton visited Tupelo, Mississippi, on Oct. 30 to speak at a campaign rally for U.S. Senate Democratic candidate Scott Colom. Here are…
