10 November 2026
HATTIESBURG, MS – Tuesday was the last day for Mississippi’s final ballots in the U.S. Senate race, and Democrat Scott Colom still led Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by 2,536 votes. Hyde-Smith told reporters to “keep counting.” Also tonight: a Mississippi lawyer had his hearing for a seat on a top federal appeals court, Jackson landed nearly $64 million to fight crime, state rural health money is coming to Jones College, and Mississippi State’s Josh Hubbard joined a short list before the Bulldogs’ next opponent heads to Hattiesburg.
Where does the Senate race stand after Tuesday’s deadline?
Colom led Hyde-Smith 467,961 votes to 465,425, or 49.1% to 48.8%, WDAM reported Tuesday. Independent Ty Pinkins had about 2.1%, the Magnolia Tribune reported. As of Monday, counties were still waiting on 2,578 mail-in ballots, Secretary of State Michael Watson said. Counties had processed 15,547 affidavit ballots, and 76% had been accepted, WDAM reported.
Tuesday at 5 p.m. was the deadline for affidavit voters to show photo ID at their circuit clerk’s office and for mailed ballots postmarked by Election Day to arrive, the Mississippi Free Press reported. Rankin County, where Hyde-Smith leads 62% to 37%, planned to begin scanning 968 affidavit ballots Tuesday evening. Observers expect thousands of the remaining affidavit votes to come from Hinds County, where Colom leads 79% to 19%, the Free Press reported. Counties must certify results by Friday, Nov. 13.
Why it matters here: The window to fix an affidavit ballot is now closed in Forrest, Lamar, Jones and every other Pine Belt county. Your county’s final numbers will be part of the certified count due Friday. Forrest County flipped to Colom on election night, as we noted in Friday’s statewide headlines.
What did Hyde-Smith say about the race?
In her first on-camera comments since Election Day, Hyde-Smith told CNN reporters Tuesday that her message to Mississippi is to “keep counting,” WDAM reported. She said thousands of votes are still out and that she feels “confident.” Asked about Colom’s claim that she has “no path to victory,” she said, “he can say anything he wants.” She did not take more questions.
Meanwhile, the fight over affidavit ballots goes on. The National Republican Senatorial Committee asked counties to separate and keep affidavit ballots, and Colom’s lawyers said that would break state law and voters’ rights, the Mississippi Free Press reported. State GOP Chairman Mike Hurst said the party is ready to go to court if it finds evidence of legal violations, the Free Press reported. As we reported in Monday’s statewide headlines, Mississippi has no automatic recount for a close Senate race.
Why it matters here: Hyde-Smith is one of the two U.S. senators for every Pine Belt resident. Any court challenge would pull in the same county election offices that handled your ballot.
Who is Todd Butler, and why does his hearing matter?
Todd Butler, a partner at the Phelps Dunbar law firm, went before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, the Magnolia Tribune reported. President Donald Trump nominated him to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to replace Judge Leslie Southwick, who is taking senior status. Butler is a Mississippi State graduate who went to Mississippi College School of Law and once clerked for Southwick. Sens. Roger Wicker and Hyde-Smith back him and called him “an excellent pick for the federal bench.”
Why it matters here: The 5th Circuit hears appeals from federal courts in Mississippi, including the federal courthouse in Hattiesburg. Federal cases from the Pine Belt that are appealed go to this court.
What is Jackson getting to fight crime?
U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche came to Jackson on Monday to announce just under $64 million over three years through the Justice Department’s Model Cities Initiative, the Magnolia Tribune reported. Jackson was one of four cities picked out of 47 that applied. The money will pay for more patrols, investigators and prosecutors, plus a real-time public safety center that could use drones. Gov. Tate Reeves and Mayor John Horhn both spoke.
Why it matters here: No Pine Belt city was part of this award. It is statewide news worth knowing about crime in the capital city. On a smaller scale, Hattiesburg just won a $361,000 federal grant to expand its Behavioral Health Court, which plans to serve 200 people over five years with Pine Belt Mental Healthcare Resources, WDAM reported.
How is state rural health money reaching the Pine Belt?
Jones College received $770,000 through the state’s rural health transformation program, WDAM reported Tuesday. The money will train clinical preceptors, the working health care staff who supervise students in nursing, EMS, pharmacy and radiology. Training runs January through April. “We’re going to be training at least at the very minimum 150 individuals across all the disciplines,” said Dr. Benji Sessums, dean of the college’s School of Health Sciences.
Why it matters here: Sessums said the goal is to grow clinical preceptor capacity in the region by at least 40% by summer 2027. More preceptors means more room for health care students to train at hospitals and clinics in Jones County and nearby.
What happened in Mississippi sports?
Josh Hubbard scored his 2,000th career point in Mississippi State’s 98-57 win over Jackson State on Monday in Starkville, SuperTalk Mississippi reported. He is the fourth Bulldog to reach 2,000, joining Jeff Malone, Bailey Howell and Quinndary Weatherspoon, the Magnolia Tribune reported. MSU is 3-0 and plays Xavier on Friday in the Greenbrier Tip-Off.
Why it matters here: Jackson State plays at Southern Miss on Wednesday, SuperTalk reported. Jackson State’s Mike Williams led all scorers Monday with 23 points.
FAQ
Has the Mississippi Senate race been called?
No. Colom led by 2,536 votes Tuesday, WDAM reported.
Can I still fix my affidavit ballot?
No. The deadline was 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10.
When will results be final?
Counties must certify by Friday, Nov. 13.
Who is Todd Butler?
A Mississippi lawyer nominated to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. He had his Senate hearing Tuesday.
When does Southern Miss host Jackson State?
Wednesday, Nov. 11, in Hattiesburg.