2026 Elections
Scott Colom Wins Mississippi US Senate Race, Will Be State’s First Black Senator in 146 Years
Scott Colom, a 44-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.
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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
Lafayette County’s Affidavit Ballots Break for Scott Colom 69%-29%, Far Exceeding His Overall Margin
Affidavit ballots broke for Democrat Scott Colom by a 69%-29% margin in the U.S. Senate race in Lafayette County, Mississippi, the home of the University of Mississippi. Overall, Colom won all votes cast there against incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by a far narrower 49%-48% margin, figures that Lafayetteā¦
Culture
Photos | āThe Drag Spectacularā: 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 āThe Drag Spectacular: A Decade of Diversityā 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.
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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 atā¦
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 areā¦
āItās Winning Timeā: Bill Clinton Rallies for Bipartisan Support of Scott Colom Days Before Nov. 3 Election
Former President Bill Clinton spoke in support of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Scott Colom at an Oct. 30 rally in Tupelo, Mississippi. The Democratic candidateā¦
Hinds County Website, Voter Info Page Down, Election Commission Phone Still Disconnected on Election Eve
Hinds County’s website, including its page with voter information and polling locations, is non-functional on Election Day eve, with the link taking visitors to aā¦
