Scott Colom Wins Mississippi Senate Seat in Historic Victory

Scott Colom has captured a U.S. Senate seat in Mississippi, unseating Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith after a vote count that lasted more than a week.

The result breaks a four-decade drought for Democrats in the state, according to reports from rainews.it.

The victory signals a stark departure for a state that has long served as a Republican firewall. When Democrats initially looked toward the midterm elections, they hoped for an “onda blu” (blue wave). Instead, they secured a “tsunami blu” (blue tsunami) that included the Mississippi, historically one of the most conservative states in the United States.

Colom, a 43-year-old local prosecutor, now becomes the first African American senator elected in the state since 1881, when Blanche K. Bruce completed his term. Colom is the third Black senator from Mississippi and the first in 146 years. Despite the state having a population that is more than 35 percent African American, it has not elected a Black senator since the late 19th century.

The last Democrat to win a Senate seat in Mississippi was elected in 1982, though that individual was a known proponent of racial segregation, rainews.it noted. With this win, Democrats now hold 55 seats in the 100-member Senate, pending the final results of a contested race in Alaska.

Colom’s team repurposed the remark into a viral campaign slogan: “Pick another Senator,” rainews.it reported.

The win marks a reversal for Colom, who three years ago saw his nomination for a federal judgeship blocked by Hyde-Smith, according to huffingtonpost.it.

“Although this is not the result we worked for or hoped for, I respect the decision of the voters of Mississippi,” said Cindy Hyde-Smith in a video message, according to rainews.it. She offered her congratulations to Colom and expressed hope for his success.

Addressing a crowd at Tougaloo College, Colom focused on his transition to Washington.

“Tutto quello che ho fatto è stato avere il coraggio di immaginare una serata come questa,” said Scott Colom, according to huffingtonpost.it.

“Ho avuto il coraggio di credere nel Mississippi. Ho avuto il coraggio di capire che possiamo dimostrare al Paese che il Mississippi conta. Il mio impegno nei vostri confronti, di ognuno di voi, è che innanzitutto tratterò i vostri figli come vorrei che fossero trattati i miei. Tratterò i vostri genitori come vorrei che fossero trattati i miei. Tratterò il vostro futuro come vorrei che fosse il mio e lavorerò per migliorare la vita di ogni cittadino del Mississippi”, said Scott Colom.

This victory concludes a cycle in which the state had not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1982.

Earlier coverage: Scott Colom Elected as Mississippi's First Black Senator in 150 Years

More on Mississippi Senate: Newsom and Marc Elias Mobilize as Mississippi Senate Race Remains Too Close to Call