Mississippi is still counting votes in one of the closest Senate races of the 2026 midterm elections, and the final outcome remains uncertain.
Democratic challenger Scott Colom is maintaining a narrow lead over Republican incumbent Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith as election officials work to finish counting outstanding ballots from the November 3 election.
As of November 10, Colom was leading by approximately 2,536 votes, according to unofficial results. With thousands of ballots still being processed, neither candidate has been declared the winner.
Mississippi's 82 counties have until Friday, November 13, to complete their ballot counts and submit certified election results to the Mississippi Secretary of State's Office.
The state also faced a November 10 deadline for receiving eligible mail-in absentee ballots and allowing voters to resolve certain issues involving affidavit ballots.
However, Friday's county certification deadline does not necessarily mean the race will be officially decided that day. Mississippi's statewide certification is scheduled for December 3.
Another important detail is that Mississippi does not allow runoff elections in regular federal general elections. The candidate receiving the most votes wins, even without securing more than 50 percent of the total.
The race has drawn national attention because of its exceptionally close margin and the possibility of a significant change in Mississippi's representation in Washington.
Colom, a former district attorney, is challenging Hyde-Smith, who has served in the U.S. Senate since 2018. Independent candidate Ty Pinkins is also on the ballot.
Both campaigns are watching the remaining votes closely as election officials continue their work.
For now, Mississippi voters and the rest of the country are waiting for the final results.