Scott Colom remained ahead of Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi’s uncalled Senate contest Tuesday, with the narrow margin leaving the state’s result pending county certification.
The Associated Press reported that its 4:30 p.m. ET count put Colom 2,607 votes ahead, a 0.27 percentage-point margin. The tally included 953,547 votes, about 97% of the estimated total. The AP count recorded 20,034 votes for independent Ty Pinkins. Colom’s lead has grown from 2,574 votes in EconoTimes’ previous count of the race.
CNBC reported that Tuesday was the deadline to resolve affidavit or provisional ballots and receive absentee ballots by mail bearing the Nov. 3 Election Day postmark.
Mississippi and Alaska were the two Senate contests still without a call, CNBC reported. The outlet said Democrats had won seven seats previously held by Republicans, leaving them with at least 54 seats in the 100-member Senate when the new term begins in January. The Associated Press said a Colom victory would make him the first Black U.S. senator from Mississippi since Reconstruction.
Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson’s office said counties have until Nov. 13 to submit certified results.
