‘I had the courage to believe in Mississippi’ says Scott Colom after historic Senate win – US politics live

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Mississippi has elected Scott Colom, a Democrat, as its senator, adding to a wave of Democratic gains across the country in this year’s midterm elections.

He defeated incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith in the closely contested Senate race to become the state’s first black senator since the post-Civil War Reconstruction era, marking a historic moment for Mississippi and a major breakthrough for the Democrats in a traditionally Republican state.

Senator-elect Scott Colom raises a fist during his victory rally in Tougaloo, Mississippi on Wednesday. Photograph: Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger/Reuters “All I did was have the courage to imagine a night like this,” Colom said in his victory speech last night.

“I had the courage to believe in Mississippi. I had the courage to understand that we can show the country that Mississippi matters.”

Just over a week since the midterm elections, the Associated Press called the race after absentee and provisional ballots were counted.

“While this is not the outcome we worked for or hoped for, I respect the decision of Mississippi voters,” Hyde-Smith said.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner have arrived in Moscow for talks with Vladimir Putin, seeking progress towards ending the war in Ukraine following negotiations with Russian and Ukrainian officials in Abu Dhabi.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev walk from hotel for a scheduled meeting in Moscow, Russia. Photograph: Yulia Morozova/Reuters US defence secretary Pete Hegseth was admonished by a military guard after he and his entourage were seen laughing and talking near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where visitors are required to remain silent. The incident came days after Republicans blocked an attempt to impeach him.