Democratic challenger Scott Colom led incumbent Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by 43 votes in incomplete, unofficial results Wednesday, with an estimated 44,000 ballots still outstanding in the Mississippi U.S. Senate race, Fox News reported. The contest remains too close to call as absentee, affidavit and provisional ballots await processing.
National Democrats Mobilize Behind Colom
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and election lawyer Marc Elias are rallying support for Colom as the race enters its final phase. In an overnight fundraising email obtained by Fox News Digital, Newsom’s campaign urged supporters to “Please help asap,” warning that the contest was entering “a phase of ballot curing and possible legal fights.” The email stated that Colom led the Republican incumbent “by just a couple hundred votes” and cautioned, “There is no way Republicans are giving up this Senate seat without a fight.”
Elias, founder of Elias Law Group, announced on Bluesky that his firm is “leading the legal effort to ensure” Colom wins, writing, “Scott Colom is going to be the next Senator from Mississippi.” The same reporting appeared on WFMD and Noticias Fox News.
Scott Colom is going to be the next Senator from Mississippi. I am proud that Elias Law Group is leading the legal effort to ensure that happens.
Court Disputes Target Election Procedures
Mississippi law allows absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day to arrive within five business days—through Nov. 10—and permits voters to cure certain ballot problems during that window, according to Fox News. The Mississippi Democratic Party has filed a court challenge alleging delayed polling-place openings, long lines and ballot shortages in DeSoto County.
Elias is a longtime Democratic election lawyer who served as general counsel to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and led a Perkins Coie legal team representing Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign before founding Elias Law Group, which has represented Democratic campaign committees in high-profile election disputes, Fox News reported.
Outstanding Ballots Decide the Race
With approximately 44,000 ballots remaining uncounted, the final outcome depends on the processing of absentee, affidavit and provisional votes. Fox News Digital reached out to Elias for additional details about his planned involvement but did not receive a response in time for publication.
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