Mississippi and Alaska Senate Races Remain Unresolved After the 2026 Midterms
Days after the 2026 midterm elections delivered historic victories for Democrats nationally, two crucial Senate contests in Mississippi and Alaska remain uncalled, with thousands of uncounted ballots leaving control of both seats up in the air.
The ongoing counts in these two states present a striking scenario, particularly given that President Donald Trump won both states by double digits during the 2024 presidential election.
In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola holds a narrow lead of over 600 votes against Republican Dan Sullivan, while ballots continue to trickle in. Meanwhile, down in Mississippi, Democrat Scott Colom leads Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by nearly 2,500 votes.
The Counting Process and Legal Preparations in Mississippi
Local election officials in Mississippi estimate that roughly 30,000 ballots remain uncounted. Because of the state’s decentralized vote-counting framework, individual counties are not legally required to report their certified totals until 10 days post-election, meaning final outcomes might not clear until late next week.
We are not backing down. This election is not over. Our team is working across Mississippi to monitor the remaining ballots and protect the integrity of the process. We will see this through to the very end!
Both political campaigns are bracing for a drawn-out verification phase. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith addressed supporters via social media, emphasizing vigilance over the remaining totals:
“We are not backing down. This election is not over,” a social media post from Hyde-Smith read. “Our team is working across Mississippi to monitor the remaining ballots and protect the integrity of the process. We will see this through to the very end.”
On the other side of the aisle, Colom indicated that his campaign is fully prepared to defend the current tallies in court if necessary.
“It’s not about her, it’s not about the Republican Party. It’s about the people of Mississippi. It’s clear they’ve chosen to go into a new direction. If they want to litigate, we got an army of lawyers ready to protect the process, protect the integrity of the decision the voters made on Nov. 3,” Colom said in an interview.
Colom stated in an interview, adding that if his opponent believes a viable path to victory remains, she should outline it publicly.
As election administrators work through the remaining stacks of envelopes across both states, the broader balance of power in Congress hangs on the final certification of these lingering votes.
