Even Mississippi, a Republican stronghold, has flipped ... Democrats reach 55 Senate seats

【Financial News correspondent Lee Byung-chul, New York】 The U.S. Democratic Party has expanded its Senate seats to at least 55 after winning in Mississippi, a traditional Republican stronghold. The victory allowed Democrats to capture at least eight seats previously held by Republicans in the midterm elections, further strengthening their position in Congress after taking control of both the House and Senate. Notably, Mississippi will have its first Black U.S. senator since the Reconstruction era following the Civil War.
 According to The Associated Press (AP), CNBC and other outlets on the 11th local time, Democratic candidate Scott Colom secured victory in Mississippi’s U.S. Senate race, defeating incumbent Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. That afternoon, Hyde-Smith called Colom personally to concede defeat.
 In a video posted on X, Hyde-Smith said, “This is not the outcome we worked and hoped for, but I respect the decision of Mississippi voters,” adding, “I congratulate Scott Colom on his election and hope he will successfully carry out the immense responsibility of representing our state.”
 Colom, a former local district attorney, will become the first Black U.S. senator from Mississippi since the Reconstruction era following the Civil War. Mississippi has long been considered a Republican stronghold. Until the election, leading political analysts also viewed the Democrats’ chances of winning as low.
 With this victory, Democrats have secured at least 55 of the Senate’s 100 seats, retaking at least eight seats held by Republicans. Alaska is the only Senate race in which the winner has yet to be determined. There, former Democratic congresswoman Mary Peltola is narrowly leading Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan. If Democrats also win in Alaska, their Senate total will rise to 56 seats.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said on X, “The era of a Democratic Mississippi has arrived (Blue Mississippi is here),” adding, “Only Scott Colom could get this done. I have known him since the first time I met him.”


[email protected] Correspondent Lee Byung-chul Reporter