The Associated Press on Wednesday called Mississippi’s Senate race for Democrat Scott Colom, giving the state its first Democratic US senator in nearly four decades.

Colom, 43, defeated Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith following days of ballot counting since Nov. 3 midterm elections, marking a historic political breakthrough in one of the country’s most reliably Republican states.

He also makes history as the first Black person elected to represent Mississippi in the Senate since the Reconstruction era.

The outcome adds to a broader midterm rebuke of President Donald Trump and his Republican Party, which suffered significant defeats in several Republican-controlled states.

Colom is a local prosecutor who built his campaign around economic concerns, particularly rising prices and affordability. He sought to capitalize on voter frustration with the economy while highlighting what his campaign described as Hyde-Smith’s shortcomings in representing ordinary Mississippians.

The last time Mississippi elected a Democratic senator was in 1947.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) Chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand congratulated Senator-elect Colom following his historic victory.

"Congratulations to Senator-Elect Colom on his historic win and on becoming the first Democrat to win a Mississippi Senate seat in over four decades," they wrote in a joint statement,

They also pledged to work with him on issues affecting Mississippi residents when he joins the upper chamber in the 120th Congress.

Hyde-Smith, for her part, congratulated Colom and wished him well as he takes on the "tremendous responsibility" of representing the state.

"While this is not the outcome we worked for or hoped for, I respect the decision of Mississippi voters," the Republican said in a video message.

'Mississippi matters'

Colom celebrated his historic victory at a rally after his defeat of incumbent Sen. Hyde-Smith.

Addressing supporters, he reflected on his campaign, describing his political journey as one rooted in faith, collective effort and the historical significance of African American representation in Mississippi.

“For me, this journey started with a prayer, y'all,” Colom told the crowd, adding that prayer had played an important role in shaping the state's history.

He pointed to Hiram Revels, who became the first African American to serve in the US Senate and represented Mississippi in 1870 and 1871 during the Reconstruction era.

“For people that don't know, the first African American to be a United States senator was from the great state of Mississippi. His name was Hiram Revels,” Colom said.

Colom also credited his supporters and campaign team for the election victory, emphasizing that the outcome was the result of a collective effort rather than an individual achievement.

“For months and months, I've been telling everybody everywhere I go that we're going to win this election,” he said. “It's not something that I did, it's something that we did.”

In his remarks, the senator-elect pledged to represent all Mississippians and make the state's interests central to his work in Washington.

“I make a solemn commitment to each and every Mississippian today: in every decision I make, I will never forget the most important thing is, Mississippi matters,” he said. (AA)