Mississippi Senate race too close to call as vote count continues

The Senate election in Mississippi between Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democratic challenger Scott Colom remained too close to call early Wednesday as vote counting continued.^1,2,3,5

The race was left undecided with nearly all ballots counted and the candidates separated by less than one percentage point, an unexpectedly tight result in a contest that recent polls had suggested Hyde-Smith would win comfortably.^4,5

Early Wednesday, Democratic challenger Colom held a narrow lead of a little more than 2,000 votes, with 461,370 votes to 459,201 for Hyde-Smith. That tally represented a difference of less than one percentage point with nearly all ballots counted.⁵

An update listed Colom at 464,926 votes, or 49.0 percent, and Hyde-Smith at 463,788 votes, or 48.9 percent, with expected vote reporting at 96 percent. The update was posted at 7:44 p.m. ET on Nov. 4.⁶

CBS described the margin as less than 30 ballots with 97 percent of votes counted, while an account Wednesday morning described Hyde-Smith and Colom as tied at 48.9 percent with more than 95 percent of votes in. The Washington Times headline described dozens of votes separating the Republican incumbent and the Democratic challenger.^2,3,4

The outlets gave different figures for the vote totals, percentages and share of votes counted. CBS put the reporting level at 97 percent, the update put expected vote reporting at 96 percent, and other accounts described more than 95 percent of votes in or nearly all ballots counted. The reports did not provide a single final total or a unified figure for how many ballots remained uncounted.^3,4,5,6

The closeness of the count contrasted with pre-election expectations. Recent polls had suggested that Hyde-Smith would move to re-election without difficulty against Colom, a Democratic prosecutor. Mississippi has not elected a Democrat to the United States Senate in more than four decades.⁴

A national Senate projection listed Democrats gaining control with 54 seats to 44 for Republicans, with Democrats listed as having 13 seats up for election and gaining seven and Republicans listed as having 22 seats up and losing seven, with 51 seats needed for control. The reports did not state what effect the Mississippi seat would have on that projection.⁶

It was not known from the reports how many votes remained to be counted, where those votes were located, or how long the count would take. The reports also did not specify whether provisional, absentee or other categories of ballots were included in the remaining share or provide a schedule for further updates from election officials.^3,4,5,6

The reports did not describe recount rules, thresholds or any formal challenge or legal proceeding concerning ballots. The headline on the race pointed to an extended vote count and a possible ballot battle, but no details of such a battle, including parties involved, ballots at issue or forums for review, were included in the available accounts.^1,6

Vote counting was described as continuing.^1,3