Why It Matters
Mississippi’s unresolved Senate race is among the contests that could alter the projected balance of the U.S. Senate in January. Democrats are on track to hold 54 Senate seats, with Alaska and Mississippi offering potential gains of one or two additional seats.
What Happened
Scott Colom led Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith by about 2,600 votes Tuesday afternoon in Mississippi’s Senate race. The result remained unsettled as election officials continued processing ballots.
Mississippi mail-in absentee ballots must be received by Tuesday. The state’s 82 counties must submit certified election results and provisional-ballot tallies by Friday, with statewide certification scheduled for Dec. 3.
Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson said “about 14,200 provisional ballots had been processed.” About 80% of those processed ballots were accepted, while approximately 2,700 mail-in absentee ballots had not been returned.
Mississippi recounts take place only under a court order.
The Mississippi contest is one of two Senate races that could add to the Democrats’ projected total. In Alaska, Mary Peltola led Dan Sullivan by about 2,500 votes Tuesday afternoon, with about 76% of the vote counted. Certain absentee ballots mailed from outside the United States may be accepted through Nov. 18.
If neither Alaska Senate candidate wins a majority, the race will proceed to ranked-choice tabulation on Nov. 18. Alaska’s target date for certifying election results is Nov. 25, and recounts there are automatic only in the event of a tie.
By the Numbers
54 Senate seats — Democrats’ projected January total
One or two seats — Potential Democratic gains from Alaska and Mississippi
255 House seats — Democrats’ current total
About 2,600 votes — Scott Colom’s lead over Cindy Hyde-Smith
82 counties — Mississippi counties required to submit election materials
Dec. 3 — Mississippi’s statewide certification date
14,200 — Mississippi provisional ballots processed
80% — Processed Mississippi provisional ballots accepted
2,700 — Mississippi mail-in absentee ballots not yet returned
About 2,500 votes — Mary Peltola’s lead over Dan Sullivan
76% — Estimated Alaska Senate vote counted
Nov. 18 — Deadline for certain Alaska absentee ballots and possible Senate ranked-choice tabulation
Nov. 25 — Alaska’s target certification date
Four — Undecided North Carolina House races
Nov. 17 — North Carolina recount-request deadline
Nov. 24 — North Carolina certification date
23rd District — California House race that could affect the chamber’s balance of power
Dec. 11 — California’s statewide certification date
About 3,000 votes — Joe Wilson’s lead over Zyon Khalia in South Carolina’s 2nd District
99% — South Carolina 2nd District vote counted
About 300 votes — Margin in Minnesota’s 1st District race
0.25% — Minnesota threshold for a publicly funded recount
About 300 votes — Margin between Victoria Broderick and Scott DesJarlais in Tennessee’s 4th District
Six — Kansas races included in the close-race audit
Nov. 16 — Kansas audit-completion and county-certification deadline
About 45,000 votes — Jonathan S. Kreiss-Tomkins’ lead over Bernadette M. Wilson in Alaska’s governor’s race
49.6% to 28.9% — Vote shares for Kreiss-Tomkins and Wilson
Zoom Out
More than a dozen House races also remained uncalled Tuesday. Four undecided contests were in North Carolina, where Republican incumbents were challenged.
North Carolina recount requests must be received by noon Eastern time Nov. 17 when the margin is 1% or less. The state is scheduled to certify its results Nov. 24.
Other unresolved House contests included California’s 23rd District, South Carolina’s 2nd District, Minnesota’s 1st District and Tennessee’s 4th District. California counties must certify results by Dec. 3, followed by statewide certification Dec. 11.
A recount was ongoing in South Carolina’s 2nd District, where Joe Wilson led Zyon Khalia by about 3,000 votes with 99% counted. In Minnesota’s 1st District, about 300 votes separated the top two candidates with about 99% counted; candidates may request a publicly funded recount when the margin is below 0.25%.
About 300 votes separated Victoria Broderick and Scott DesJarlais in Tennessee’s 4th District. Tennessee recounts occur only as part of a court legal challenge.
In Kansas, Cindy Holscher led Ty Masterson by less than 1 percentage point in the governor’s race. A close-race audit announced Nov. 4 covered six races, including the governor’s contest, and must be completed before Nov. 16.
Alaska’s governor’s race also remained subject to further tabulation. Jonathan S. Kreiss-Tomkins led Bernadette M. Wilson by about 45,000 votes, 49.6% to 28.9%, with about 76% counted. The race will proceed to ranked-choice tabulation if no candidate receives more than 50%.
What’s Next
Mississippi officials will continue processing ballots before county submissions and the state’s Dec. 3 certification. Alaska officials face additional absentee-ballot processing and a possible ranked-choice tabulation on Nov. 18, while unresolved House races will move through state-specific recount and certification procedures.