Colom Leads Hyde-Smith in Uncalled Mississippi Senate Race

Democrat Scott Colom led Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by 1,138 votes in Mississippi’s uncalled Senate race on November 5, as officials continued processing ballots that could change the result. About 96% of the vote had been counted in that snapshot, and the margin remained unofficial. Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson said roughly 3,600 absentee-by-mail ballots remained outstanding, along with an unknown number of affidavit ballots. Counties have until November 13 to submit certified results. The state’s count allows qualifying mail ballots postmarked by Election Day to arrive afterward, while affidavit ballots require eligibility checks under state rules. The National Republican Senatorial Committee asked election officials in all 82 Mississippi counties to preserve and set aside provisional, or affidavit, ballots for later review. The committee said the step would allow officials to verify each ballot’s eligibility and disposition. Its letters did not accuse election officials of mishandling ballots. Colom campaign manager Gerard Henderson criticized the committee’s intervention, describing it as an attempt to interfere with the race’s momentum. The campaign...