Colom Visits Jackson While Senate Ballot Count Continues
Unofficial results show a 0.3 percentage point gap with 96.9% of votes counted, as Democrats and Republicans prepare for final certification.
By Neha Kapoor ·
Thousands of ballots in Mississippi’s U.S. Senate race remain in the count as of Friday, November 6. Democrat Scott Colom used the day to meet with constituents in Jackson while election officials process the remaining votes.
Colom began his morning at the Senior Tougaloo Citizens Center, where attendees greeted him with applause. He explained to reporters that he is continuing his campaign activities to fulfill a promise made during the general election. He stated that he intends to keep showing up and listening to voters to ensure their needs remain a priority.
Unofficial results released Friday show Colom leading with 467,930 votes, representing 49.1% of the total. Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith trails with 465,356 votes, or 48.8%. Independent candidate Ty Pinkins has accumulated 20,028 votes, accounting for 2.1%. Approximately 96.9% of all votes have been tallied so far.
Voters at the senior center shared their expectations for the potential senator. Delphine Roberts said she hopes Colom will prioritize health care and wages, noting his previous commitments to Medicaid and Medicare. Maggie Benson White described the visit as evidence that Colom values the effort of those who voted for him.
Colom’s campaign scheduled stops at Marshall’s Book Store and OffBeat Records to discuss how tariffs and rising costs affect local business owners. Secretary of State Michael Watson estimated that between 12,000 and 20,000 affidavit ballots remain uncounted statewide. Watson attributed the higher volume to voter roll maintenance issues and stated the system is operating as intended.
Colom said he has received numerous messages from voters concerned about rejected ballots. He noted that there is a clear process for curing affidavit or absentee ballots. Watson clarified that only voters who cast affidavit ballots without photo ID have five days to present identification at the courthouse. Other affidavit voters do not need to return, and all can track their status through the Secretary of State’s office.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee sent a letter on Thursday to county election commissioners and circuit clerks. The letter demands that all affidavit ballots from the November 3 general election be separated and preserved. The committee stated its goal is to ensure every lawful ballot is accurately counted. Colom responded by saying election officials understand the process and will follow the law without intimidation.
Mississippi Republican Party Chairman Mike Hurst announced on Thursday that the party has deployed more than 50 attorneys and observers to monitor the count. Mailed ballots must arrive by November 10, and the certification deadline is November 13. Hurst said Republicans will accept the final outcome if all statutory procedures are followed.
