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Newsom solicits cash as Biden’s former election lawyer mobilizes legal team for Mississippi Senate race
Democratic supporters are rallying behind Scott Colom as his Mississippi Senate race against Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith remains too close to call. California Governor Gavin Newsom has sought urgent donations, while election lawyer Marc Elias says his firm is organising legal support for the final count.
Unofficial results put Colom 43 votes ahead, with an estimated 44,000 ballots still outstanding, including absentee, affidavit and provisional ballots. Mississippi allows some absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day to arrive through 10 November and permits voters to correct certain ballot problems during that period; the state Democratic Party has also challenged alleged election delays and ballot shortages in DeSoto County.
In short
- Colom led Hyde-Smith by 43 votes in incomplete results.
- About 44,000 ballots remained to be processed.
- Newsom and Elias prepared fundraising and legal support.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Colom’s supporters can argue that a 43-vote lead in a race with many ballots outstanding makes careful scrutiny essential, and that legal assistance helps ensure eligible votes are counted under Mississippi’s rules. They may also see challenges over alleged delays and ballot shortages as a necessary way to protect equal access and public confidence in the result.
The case against
Hyde-Smith’s supporters can argue that election procedures must be applied consistently and that any challenge should rest on specific, verifiable evidence rather than the closeness of the race. They may view high-profile fundraising and outside legal mobilisation before the count is complete as risking pressure on election officials or weakening trust in a result reached through established procedures.
Explained simply
Mississippi elects two senators to the US Senate, where each state has equal representation. Cindy Hyde-Smith, a Republican, is the incumbent; Scott Colom is the Democratic challenger. The contest matters because its result could affect the balance of power in the Senate.
Election night totals are unofficial, and some ballots may be counted later under state rules. Absentee ballots are sent in by post, while provisional ballots are set aside when officials need to check a voter’s eligibility; affidavit ballots are used in certain cases where a voter’s registration cannot immediately be confirmed. Legal teams can advise campaigns on how counting rules are applied and challenge decisions they believe are improper.
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