Scott Colom wins Mississippi Senate race after concession

Democrat Scott Colom has won Mississippi's US Senate race after Republican incumbent Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith conceded, following network projections that gave Colom a narrow victory in the traditionally conservative southern state.

US news outlets including CNN, NBC and CBS called the race for Colom on Wednesday. CNN reported the 43-year-old district attorney ahead by 49.2 percent to 48.7 percent with about 99 percent of the vote counted, a margin of 4,585 votes.

Hyde-Smith, who had held office since 2018, conceded in a video posted to X. "While this is not the outcome we worked for or hoped for, I respect the decision of Mississippi voters," she said, congratulating Colom.

Colom is set to become the first African-American elected to the US Senate from Mississippi in more than 140 years, and the state's first Democratic senator in nearly 40 years.

The result adds to Democratic gains in the US midterm elections, in which Democrats reclaimed majorities in both chambers of Congress. The latest projected win would give Democrats 55 seats in the 100-member Senate, with Republicans on 44 and one race, in Alaska, still outstanding.

Mississippi has no law mandating a recount in a close election. Legal teams from both candidates were reported to be preparing for possible challenges.