'Blue Mississippi sure has a nice ring to it': Democrats react to Colom's win
'Blue Mississippi sure has a nice ring to it': Democrats react to Colom's win
Ross Reily, USA TODAY NETWORKThu, November 12, 2026 at 2:41 AM UTC
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Democratic challenger Scott Colom's upset victory over Republican incumbent Hyde-Smith immediately drew reaction from prominent Democratic leaders across the country, who framed the result as both an historic breakthrough in Mississippi and one of the most significant victories of the 2026 midterm elections.
Colom's victory capped a campaign that transformed what was once considered a long-shot Democratic bid into one of the nation's most closely watched Senate contests.
A longtime district attorney, Scott Colom built his campaign around economic issues, government accountability and expanding opportunities in rural communities while drawing support from national Democratic figures, including former President Bill Clinton, who campaigned for him in the race's final days, the Mississippi Clarion Ledger, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported.
The contest attracted national attention as outside groups and party organizations poured millions of dollars into Mississippi, sensing an opportunity in a state Republicans had comfortably carried for decades.
The outcome was historic on multiple fronts. Colom became the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Mississippi since 1982 and the first Black Mississippian elected to the Senate since the Reconstruction era.
His victory over Hyde-Smith, who had served in the Senate since 2018, was widely described by national political observers as one of the biggest surprises of the 2026 midterm elections and immediately fueled discussion about whether the result could signal broader shifts in Southern politics.
Bill Clinton: Blue Mississippi sure has a nice ring to it
Clinton celebrated the outcome on X.
"We may have had to count One Mississippi, Two Mississippi, but Blue Mississippi sure has a nice ring to it! Scott, you put your heart and soul into this race because you believe in the promise of your state's people. And they believed in you right back. I'm honored to have stood alongside you. Congratulations!"
The message echoed a broader sentiment among national Democrats who portrayed the result as evidence that Democrats can compete in states long considered safely Republican.
Chuck Schumer: 'Blue Mississippi Is Here'
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer quickly hailed the result, posting on X:
"Blue Mississippi is here. Scott Colom is the only person who could've gotten this done. I knew it from the moment I met him."
Schumer's comments reflected the surprise and excitement among Democratic leaders after a victory few national analysts predicted when the campaign began.
Cory Booker highlights historic nature of win
For many Democrats, the election carried significance beyond party politics.
U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey emphasized Colom's place in history.
"Congratulations to my friend, Senator-elect Scott Colom. History was made today. You showed that hope rises in the South, and that Mississippi matters!"
Booker's remarks echoed a theme repeated throughout the day by Democratic officials and civil-rights advocates who pointed to Colom becoming Mississippi's first Black U.S. senator since Reconstruction.
Bernie Sanders praises progressive message
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont focused on the substance of Colom's campaign, arguing voters responded to an anti-establishment economic message.
"Congratulations to Scott Colom on winning his election and making history as Mississippi's first Black senator since Reconstruction.
Scott ran on a bold agenda — taking on Big Tech, the billionaire class and corruption in Washington — and WON.
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Scott: Welcome to the Senate."
Sanders' endorsement of Colom's message added a progressive dimension to the national reaction surrounding the race.
Amy Klobuchar focuses on senate flip
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota highlighted the electoral implications of the victory.
"Congratulations to Scott Colom on flipping Mississippi's Senate seat blue for the first time in nearly 40 years! What a great senator he will be!"
Her comments underscored how Democrats viewed the Mississippi result not simply as an individual victory but as the capture of a Senate seat that had been in Republican hands for decades.
Kamala Harris weighs in historic night
Former Vice President Kamala Harris, who campaigned with Colom during the race, also celebrated the victory on X, writing that "the power is with the people, and the people of Mississippi are with Scott."
Harris called Colom's election "history" in the making, noting that he would become Mississippi's first Black U.S. senator since Reconstruction. She added that she had seen firsthand while campaigning with him in his hometown that he is "a brilliant leader," and said Mississippi voters had chosen a candidate who will fight for their future.
Mississippi Democrats join celebration
Reaction also poured in from Mississippi Democrats.
Former gubernatorial nominee Brandon Presley wrote:
"It is official, Mississippi has a new voice in Washington and it is Senator-Elect Scott Colom. Katelyn and I couldn't be happier for this beautiful family and our beloved Mississippi."
Gov. Tate Reeves wants to work with Colom
Even as national Democrats celebrated the upset, Gov. Tate Reeves struck a bipartisan tone in his public response. The Republican governor congratulated Scott Colom in a post on X and signaled a willingness to work with the senator-elect despite their political differences.
"Congratulations to Senator-Elect Scott Colom," Reeves wrote. "I hope to collaborate as we continue our very important work to support Mississippi families, grow jobs and wages for our people, and improve educational outcomes for our kids."
Reeves' message reflected an emphasis on cooperation and governing priorities as Mississippi prepares to send a new senator to Washington.
Cindy Hyde-Smith Concedes
The outpouring of reaction came after Hyde-Smith formally conceded defeat, bringing an end to one of the nation's closest and most closely watched Senate races.
In a video posted to social media, Hyde-Smith said she accepted the outcome and congratulated her opponent.
"While this is not the outcome we worked for or hoped for, I respect the decision of Mississippi voters. I want to congratulate Scott Colom and wish him well as he takes on the tremendous responsibility of representing our great state."
A result that resonated beyond Mississippi
The wave of reaction illustrated how quickly the race became a national political story. Democratic leaders celebrated a victory in a state President Trump carried comfortably two years earlier, while many focused on the historical significance of electing Mississippi's first Black U.S. senator since Reconstruction and its first Democratic senator since 1982. National media outlets widely characterized the result as one of the biggest surprises of the 2026 midterm election cycle.
Ross Reily is a writer for the Clarion Ledger, part of the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached at rreily@gannett.com. You can follow him on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter @GreenOkra1.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: 'Blue Mississippi sure has a nice ring to it': Democrats react to Colom's win
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