JACKSON, Miss. —
Democrat Scott Colom has extended his lead over incumbent Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi’s closely watched Senate race, with more than 3,000 votes now separating the two.
As of Wednesday morning in Hinds County, 67 mail-in absentee ballots were processed. Colom received 61 votes, Hyde-Smith and Pinkins received three votes each. County election officials also counting 817 affidavit ballots on Wednesday. The county has already counted 8,000 absentee ballots.
Circuit Clerk Zack Wallace said the county hopes to have election results certified no later than Thursday morning.
The same process has been underway all week across the state.
“The reality is that she can’t point to a direction where she has a possibility to win. If she truly has the ability to win, explain how,” Colom said. “I can tell you, I am very confident based on the performance of the ballots in Hinds County on Election Day. Once these affidavit ballots come in from Hinds County, the lead is going to be insurmountable.”
Meanwhile, Hyde-Smith returned to work in Washington on Tuesday as election officials continue processing ballots.
“I’m thinking that we worked very hard and had a very good campaign,” Hyde-Smith said. “We are still counting votes. There are a few thousand out, and we feel confident.”
The deadline for the state to certify the votes is Friday.