Former President Bill Clinton has celebrated Scott Colom’s historic victory in the Mississippi Senate race, where the Democrat defeated incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith. Decision Desk HQ projected the win for Colom shortly after Hyde-Smith conceded on Wednesday, as reported by The Hill. With 95% of the vote tallied, Colom had 49.18% of the vote, compared to 48.72% for the incumbent.
Clinton shared his reaction to the outcome on X. “We may have had to count One Mississippi, Two Mississippi, but Blue Mississippi sure has a nice ring to it,” Clinton wrote. He added, “Scott, you put your heart and soul into this race because you believe in the promise of your state’s people. And they believed in you right back. I’m honored to have stood alongside you. Congratulations!”
The win makes Colom the first Black senator elected from Mississippi since 1881 and the first Democrat to hold the seat since 1982. Hyde-Smith, who was appointed to her seat in 2018, had the backing of President Donald Trump.
A lot of big Democratic names had something to say
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is facing calls for new Senate leadership from some Democratic senators after the midterms, also commented on the victory. He said that “Blue Mississippi is here,” and that “Scott Colom is the only person who could’ve gotten this done. I knew it from the moment I met him.”
Rep. Bennie Thompson, who has a long history with the new senator, also shared his perspective on the win. He said he worked with Colom when Colom took part in the Mississippi Black Leadership Institute. Thompson also pointed back to 2022, when President Joe Biden nominated Colom for a federal judgeship.
Hyde-Smith blocked that nomination in 2023, which Thompson called “disappointing, but it did not lessen my conscience in him or his commitment to serve Mississippi.” Colom told The New York Times that he likely would not have entered the Senate race if he had been confirmed to the federal bench. Thompson said that having another Mississippi Democrat in Congress who understands the needs of the people means a great deal to him.
During the campaign, Colom focused on local issues, including rising prices, data centers, and redistricting efforts in the state. In one campaign ad, he turned a suggestion from Hyde-Smith that shoppers choose cheaper protein into a direct pitch for voters to pick another senator.
Others saw the win as a broader signal for the party, which took control of both chambers of Congress in the midterms. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he believes Colom’s win marks a turning point, as “Southern Democrats have been overlooked, left out, and even looked down upon, but we are on the rise.” Sen. Cory Booker, an early supporter of the campaign, said the win “showed that hope rises in the South, and that Mississippi matters!”
Published: Nov 13, 2026 09:15 am