Democrat Scott Colom defeated Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi to a spectacular victory on Wednesday, becoming the first black senator elected from the US since the post-Civil War reconstruction period. Kolom maintained an extremely weak lead, while lawyers from both parties closely scrutinized the counting process of mail-in ballots and sworn ballots. Sworn ballots are similar to temporary ballots in other states, and are mainly cast by voters whose voter registration status is classified as inactive or without proper identification. While the newly elected senators went to Washington for induction training, Colom remained in Mississippi awaiting the final results. He said it was appropriate to stay in the state at a time when supporters are increasingly hopeful that they will win. Colom's victory is exactly three years since Hyde Smith prevented him from getting a position as a federal judge. At the time, Hyde Smith blocked then-President Joseph Biden's nomination as a judge in Kolom.

Democrat Scott Colom defeated Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi to a spectacular victory on Wednesday, becoming the first black senator elected from the US since the post-Civil War reconstruction period. Kolom maintained an extremely weak lead, while lawyers from both parties closely scrutinized the counting process of mail-in ballots and sworn ballots. Sworn ballots are similar to temporary ballots in other states, and are mainly cast by voters whose voter registration status is classified as inactive or without proper identification. While the newly elected senators went to Washington for induction training, Colom remained in Mississippi awaiting the final results. He said it was appropriate to stay in the state at a time when supporters are increasingly hopeful that they will win. Colom's victory is exactly three years since Hyde Smith prevented him from getting a position as a federal judge. At the time, Hyde Smith blocked then-President Joseph Biden's nomination as a judge in Kolom.