Colom lead increases in Mississippi Senate race as Hinds County finalizes count

Officials in Hinds County began processing long-awaited affidavit ballots on Wednesday in the historic Mississippi U.S. Senate race between Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democratic challenger Scott Colom. 

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Election workers in Hinds County, a traditional Democratic stronghold and one of Mississippi’s largest counties, counted 67 outstanding mail-in ballots and were on track to process 817 accepted affidavits. Once the officials tabulate those affidavits, it could decide the outcome of the race. 

Voters cast 2,426 affidavits in Hinds County. Of those, the election commission rejected 1,609 and accepted 817. Colom’s lead has increased to 3,176 votes over Hyde-Smith with 98% of the vote counted.

The nation has been watching Mississippi, and Hinds County in particular, as the Magnolia State is one of two states with its Senate race not called more than a week after Election Day. Poll watchers, attorneys and media hovered again Wednesday as the Hinds Election Commission finalized the vote tally.