Two undecided U.S. Senate races in Mississippi and Alaska will help determine the size of the Democratic majority, with legal battles intensifying over thousands of uncounted ballots, USA Today reported. Democrats have already secured 54 seats, but the outcome in these contests will define their final margin for the final two years of President Trump’s term.
The Decisive Ballot Count in Mississippi
In Mississippi, Democratic challenger Scott Colom leads Republican incumbent Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by a razor-thin 2,500 votes, or less than one percentage point. A Democratic win would mark the party’s first Senate victory in the state since 1982 and make Colom its first Black senator since Reconstruction. The race hinges on roughly 20,000 outstanding affidavit ballots—provisional votes cast by voters lacking photo ID or missing from precinct rolls. Voters have until Nov. 10 to resolve discrepancies.
Republicans have mobilized, with Hyde-Smith’s campaign and the National Republican Senatorial Committee instructing all 82 counties to set aside and preserve these ballots, a standard precursor to litigation. Mississippi Republican Party Chair Michael Hurst announced dispatching over 50 volunteer lawyers and observers to counting sites, vowing to “fight like hell” to ensure legal compliance while stressing that “there’s no election denying going on here.” Colom’s campaign has urged counties to refuse, arguing that segregating already processed ballots violates state law. Legal challenges, permitted only county by county, could trigger a fragmented fight across dozens of courthouses.
Alaska’s Ranked-Choice Litigation
Alaska’s legal skirmishes began long before anyone voted. Democratic former congresswoman Mary Peltola leads Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan by 637 votes with roughly three-quarters of ballots counted. A complicating factor is a fourth candidate, also named Dan Sullivan, whose inclusion on the ballot Republicans warned would confuse voters. The Alaska Supreme Court declined to remove him, and the Justice Department’s attempt to block certification was dismissed by a federal judge two days before the Nov. 3 election, though the department vows to appeal.
We have moved the Mississippi and Alaska U. S. Senate races to Lean Democratic on https://t.co/D2ZT4EH5Rb. Both races remain too close to call. pic.twitter.com/2PgsYPbrnl
On Nov. 6, Peltola’s campaign opened a legal front of its own: the main group supporting her sued the state Division of Elections for the names of voters whose absentee ballots have so far been rejected. The group aims to keep her supporters from being wrongly disenfranchised. The state refused, arguing the records are preliminary and long kept confidential, and that releasing them now could slow the count. “The Division has protected this information for years and will ask the court to protect it too,” the state Department of Law stated, according to Reuters.
Senate Majority Remains Fluid
- Democratic control of the Senate is secure, but the size of the majority—critical for legislative strategy—remains fluid pending Mississippi and Alaska results.
- Mississippi’s outcome depends on roughly 20,000 affidavit ballots, with Republicans preparing for a legal contest over their validity, while Alaska’s ranked-choice tabulation is expected Nov. 18.
- Legal challenges in both states, particularly over ballot access and counting procedures, could prolong uncertainty.
Market Implications of Political Gridlock
While the Senate majority is settled, Democrats won 54 seats to Republicans’ 44, and what remains to be settled is the size of that majority and how much margin Democrats will have in the final two years of President Donald Trump’s term.
| State | Leading Candidate | Vote Margin | Key Pending Litigation | Final Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | Scott Colom (D) | 2,500 votes | Ballot preservation challenges | Nov. 10 (ballot resolution) |
| Alaska | Mary Peltola (D) | 637 votes | Rejected absentee voter list access | Nov. 18 (ranked-choice count) |
Historical Precedent and Future Projections
In Mississippi, a Colom victory would be a historic upset, potentially energizing Democratic efforts in traditionally red states. In Alaska, the ranked-choice tabulation is expected Nov. 18, since no candidate has cleared 50%, and legal battles loom.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
More on Alaska Senate
🚨 𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥. Thu, Nov. 5, 2026 Two Senate races are still uncalled — and both matter. As reported by ABC: in Mississippi, Democrat Scott Colom leads Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by about 1,700 votes with roughly 96% of the expected vote in. Mississippi… pic.twitter.com/MwGIThsf8a
If Alaska and Mississippi come through for Democrats, they’d end up flipping 9 U. S. Senate seats from 🔴 to 🔵.
