Democrat Scott Colom extended his lead over Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi on Wednesday, November 11, although the race still has no projected winner.

With 99% of the vote counted, Colom led by 4,404 votes, more than a week after the midterm elections on November 3.

The result keeps Republicans under pressure in a state considered one of their historic strongholds and raises the possibility of a change in representation.

Despite the Democratic advance, media outlets remain cautious: the narrow margin between the two candidates prevents the election from being presented as a clear-cut victory.

The Democrats’ lead in Mississippi tops 4,000 votes with 99% of the vote counted. https://t.co/59UD8szNZI

— EFE Noticias (@EFEnoticias) November 11, 2026

. At 3:00 p.m. local time in Mississippi, Colom had 471,757 votes, equal to 49.2% of the votes counted up to that point.

Hyde-Smith had 467,353 votes, or 48.7%, a difference of half a percentage point from her Democratic rival.

The 4,404-vote gap reflects Colom’s lead at that point in the count, but it is not yet a final outcome.

The key fact combines two elements: practically all of the vote had been counted, and the separation between the candidates remained small.

The count has dragged on because of how close the candidates are and because of the schedule set for receiving votes after Election Day.

The deadline for receiving votes passed on Tuesday, November 10, one week after Americans went to the polls.

That schedule helps explain why the contest was still open on Wednesday, as Colom widened his margin over the Republican senator.

The absence of a projection requires distinguishing between leading the count and winning the election: for now, Colom holds the first.

If he confirms his lead, Colom would win in a state that has not elected a Democratic senator since 1982.

The political contrast would be significant: Donald Trump won Mississippi by 22 points in the 2024 presidential election.

In addition, Colom would become the state’s first African American senator in 145 years, since Blanche K. Bruce left office in 1881.

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The race thus brings together two possible historic changes, although both depend on the outcome confirming the lead recorded on Wednesday.

A Colom victory would raise the majority Democrats won in the midterm elections to 55 seats, compared with 44 for Republicans.

For that reason, the Mississippi result also affects the size of the Democratic majority in the U.S. upper chamber.

The other pending Senate race is in Alaska, where Democrat Mary Peltola holds a narrow lead over Republican Dan Sullivan, who is seeking reelection.

To follow both races, readers should watch for upcoming updates and distinguish partial counts from any announcement of a winner.

SOURCE: EFE, Primera hora