LIVE: Mississippi Senate candidate Scott Colom gives press conference

BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX/Gray News) — Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democrat candidate Scott Colom addressed their watch parties as Election Day neared its end in the U.S. Senate race.

Vote count

At 3 a.m., 95.6% of votes were counted. Colom was leading Hyde-Smith by a narrow margin, with 462,821 votes to Hyde-Smith’s 462,778.

Independent Ty Pinkins received 19,935 votes.

Candidates address supporters

Neither candidate explicitly claimed victory during their speeches. Both said they expected to be a Mississippi senator in the next few days.

“It has been such an amazing, amazing path, and I think that we ran a very good campaign,” Hyde-Smith said. “We are in a very good lead right now. We still don’t have all the votes in, so we’re not calling all of it tonight, but we’re in a very good lead, and I assure you I will continue to be your U.S. Senator.”

“I’m telling you, deep down in my soul, I believe we’re about to show the country Mississippi matters,” Colom said. “God bless you all. Good night. See you later. We’re going to win.”

No runoff in race

Since the race is a general congressional contest, there will be no runoff. The top vote-getter will take the seat.