Photo: Brandon Bell / Getty Images News / Getty Images
Scott Colom celebrated his historic U.S. Senate victory Wednesday night (November 11) alongside supporters gathered at Tougaloo College, a historically Black liberal arts college in Jackson, Mississippi.
Colom, who will become Mississippi's first Black U.S. senator since Reconstruction, defeated Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith in a closely watched race. He will also become the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Mississippi since 1982.
During his victory speech, Colom emphasized that his win was the result of a collective effort, saying he had been telling people for months that he believed he could win the election.
“It's not something that I did, y'all. It's something that we did,” he told the crowd. “All I did was have the courage to imagine a night like this.”
The senator-elect also pledged to represent all Mississippians, regardless of whether they voted for him, promising to treat their families with the same consideration he would want for his own.
“I'm going to treat your children like I want my children to be treated. I'm going to treat your parents the way I want my parents to be treated. I'm going to treat your future the way I want my future to be,” he said.
Colom also reflected on the role faith played throughout his campaign, connecting his victory to Mississippi's Black political history.
“For me, this journey started with a prayer, y'all,” he said, referencing Hiram Revels, who became the first Black person to serve in the U.S. Senate when he represented Mississippi in 1870.
Colom recalled the challenges he faced while campaigning, including struggling to secure donors and having fewer than 10 people attend his first town hall in Jackson. Despite those setbacks, he said he continued to believe victory was possible.
“There were times when I was tired. And I felt like I couldn't keep going. But I kept the faith,” he said.
Colom closed by reaffirming his commitment to Mississippi, promising to continue working to improve the lives of its residents and never forget that “Mississippi matters.”
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