Democrat leads in tight Mississippi Senate race as Republicans face midterm losses

Democrat Scott Colom was leading Republican senator Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi on Wednesday, with nearly all votes counted. Colom had 49% of the vote, compared to Hyde-Smith's 48.9%. That is a gap of about 1,138 votes. The Associated Press had not yet declared a winner because the race was so close.

If Colom wins, he will be the first Black senator from Mississippi since the Reconstruction era. Mississippi has not sent a Democrat to the Senate in over 40 years. Nearly 40% of the state's residents are African American, the highest share of any US state.

Nationally, Democrats won seven Senate seats that were previously held by Republicans, including seats in Texas and South Carolina.