US midterm elections 2026: Democratic lead grows in Mississippi Senate race Source: theguardian.com.
Live results from the 2026 US midterm elections show a growing Democratic lead in the Mississippi Senate race. Democrat Scott Colom leads Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith by 1,138 votes with 96% of the vote counted.
Mississippi Senate race: A narrow but significant lead
With 96% of votes counted, Scott Colom is ahead of Cindy Hyde-Smith by 1,138 votes. The margin is small, but it marks a historic shift in a traditionally Republican stronghold.
Colom, a Democrat, has campaigned on issues including economic equity and rural infrastructure. His victory could signal a broader Democratic surge in the South.
Republican blame game begins
After the results, Republican leaders have begun assigning responsibility for the losses.
- Donald Trump claimed the party lost ground because he was not on the ballot. He repeatedly urged voters to imagine he was running.
- JD Vance pointed to the ongoing US conflict in Iran as the ‘obvious’ cause of Republican losses.
- Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary, has come under criticism for leading an unpopular war. Trump publicly backed Hegseth, but the backlash continues.
- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said the Republican collapse was partly due to poor ad targeting. He argued the party failed to focus on issues that would motivate voters.
Other key races remain undecided
Several races are still too close to call.
- In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola leads Republican Dan S. Sullivan by 626 votes. If neither candidate reaches 50%, the race will go to rank-choice voting.
- The Los Angeles mayoral race between incumbent Karen Bass and challenger Nithya Raman remains tight. Only 63% of votes have been counted so far, and Raman has a narrow lead.
Market reaction
Wall Street surged at the open after Democrats secured historic wins. The Dow Jones rose 2%. The Nasdaq and S&P; 500 also gained.
Earlier, stock futures had dropped sharply. Investors had feared tougher AI regulation and its impact on economic growth. The market reversal reflects confidence in the new Congress.
These results are part of a broader trend in US politics. Democrats have won key Senate and House seats, securing control of Congress for the first time in over a decade.
The full results are available at the Guardian’s interactive map. A detailed breakdown of the races can be found at this results guide.
Readers are invited to share their views on the results via this feedback form.
Sources & further reading
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