Mississippians went to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 3, to vote for four U.S. House seats, a U.S. Senate seat and a number of local and county races. Some candidates experienced success while others had to come to terms with defeat. 

As of Thursday, Mississippi is still waiting—and will continue to wait—for the U.S. Senate race between incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith and challenging Democrat Scott Colom. 

Here are some photos from Election Day, including voters, parties and candidate reactions.

People line up outside of a brick building, waiting their turn to vote
Voters wait in line at the precinct Olive Branch Seventh Day Adventist Church in Olive Branch, Miss., on Nov. 3, 2024. MFP Photo by Ahmer A. Khan
A poll worker explains the process to a voter
Poll worker Lisa Stewart explains the voting process to a morning voter at this Jackson, Miss., precinct on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. MFP Photo by Rogelio V. Solis
A woman holding a blue sign that says “Mississippi” in white text in multiple rows
A supporter of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Scott Colom attends his watch party at the Ice House in Jackson, Miss., on Nov. 3, 2026. MFP Photo by Heather Harrison
Scott Colom hugging his daughter with a crowd of people in the background
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Scott Colom joined supporters at a watch party at the Ice House in Jackson, Miss., on Nov. 3, 2026. MFP Photo by Heather Harrison
Cindy Hyde-Smith smiling and preparing to greet a woman
U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith speaks to supporters at her victory party in Flowood, Miss., Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. MFP Photo by Rogelio V. Solis
Michael Guest speaking into several reporters’ microphones
U.S. Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss., speaks about his reelection with reporters at U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., election night reception in Flowood, Miss., Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. MFP Photo by Rogelio V. Solis
Jeffrey Hulum next to a young man, speaking and gesturing with his left hand to a room of people 
Mississippi Rep. Jeffrey Hulum III, D-Gulfport, speaks to supporters at his watch party in Gulfport, Miss., on Nov. 3, 2026. MFP Photo by Amy Schafer
A crowd of people inside a restaurant 
People gathered at a watch party for Democratic U.S. House candidate Cliff Johnson at Big Bad Breakfast in Oxford, Miss., on Nov. 3, 2026. MFP Photo by Ahmer A. Khan
A line of people outside a building with two large brick pillars at the front
A line of people wait to vote on Election Day at Grace Baptist Church in Ocean Springs, Miss., on Nov. 3, 2026. MFP Photo by Amy Schafer
Scott Colom takes a selfie with a supporter 
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Scott Colom poses with supporters at a watch party at the Ice House in Jackson, Miss., on Nov. 3, 2026. MFP Photo by Heather Harrison
A close-up of Cindy Hyde-Smith with a couple of people behind her
U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., addresses supporters at her victory party in Flowood, Miss., Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. MFP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis
A closeup of hands putting their paper ballot into the scanner
Early morning voters at this Jackson, Miss., precinct, feed their paper ballots into voting machines Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Among the issues voters in Hinds County considered include a tourism tax for Hinds County, voting for a Hinds County District Attorney, and a U.S. Senator. MFP Photo Rogelio V. Solis

Follow the Mississippi Free Press’ coverage of 2026 elections and read past stories here. 

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Rogelio V. Solis is Mississippi Free Press' new senior photojournalist. A veteran journalist, Solis most recently served 28 years as the staff photographer with the Jackson bureau of The Associated Press.

Amy Schafer is the Mississippi Free Press' Gulf Coast bureau reporter in partnership with Report for America. A 2026 graduate of Pennsylvania State University's Schreyer Honors College, she holds degrees in advertising/public relations, global and international studies with a concentration in human rights and women's, gender and sexuality studies. Before joining MFP, she served as editor-in-chief of Penn State's student newspaper The Daily Collegian and freelanced for The Washington Post.

North Mississippi Bureau Reporter Ahmer A. Khan is a graduate of University of Mississippi. He is bringing his combined legal and journalism training directly to communities within the bureau during a critical election cycle.

State Reporter Heather Harrison has won more than a dozen awards for her multi-media journalism work. At Mississippi State University, she studied public relations and broadcast journalism, earning her Communication degree in 2023. For three years, Heather worked at The Reflector student newspaper: first as a staff reporter, then as the news editor and finally, as the editor-in-chief. This is where her passion for politics and government reporting began.
Heather started working at the Mississippi Free Press three days after graduation in 2023. She also worked part time for Starkville Daily News after college covering the Board of Aldermen meetings.
In her free time, Heather likes to sit on the porch, read books and listen to Taylor Swift. A native of Hazlehurst, she now lives in Brandon with her wife and their Boston Terrier, Finley, and calico cat, Ravioli.