Democrat Scott Colom projected to win Mississippi Senate race as White House warns of investigations
Democrat Scott Colom is projected to defeat incumbent Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi's U.S. Senate race, marking a major upset in a traditionally Republican state.
(NBC)- Democrat Scott Colom is projected to defeat incumbent Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi’s U.S. Senate race, marking a major upset in a traditionally Republican state.
According to NBC News projections, Colom narrowly defeated Hyde-Smith, becoming Mississippi’s first Black U.S. senator since the Reconstruction era following the Civil War.
“I respect the decision of Mississippi voters,” Hyde-Smith said.
Colom celebrated the victory with supporters, emphasizing the collective effort behind his campaign.
“It’s not something that I did, y’all. It’s something that we did,” Colom said.
The projected victory brings the number of Senate seats flipped by Democrats to eight, with votes still being counted in a closely contested Alaska race.
Democrats are preparing to take control of both chambers of Congress in January, promising to prioritize affordability and government accountability.
Meanwhile, the White House is warning incoming Democratic leaders about potential congressional investigations.
White House Counsel Will Scharf sent a letter cautioning that investigations intended to punish political opponents could constitute criminal activity.
“They’re talking about subpoenas and investigations for blatantly unlawful purposes. And I thought it was very, very important that just at the outset we set the tone,” Scharf said.
California Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia rejected the warning, accusing the administration of attempting to discourage congressional oversight.
“Donald Trump is clearly hiding something. We are not going to be threatened or intimidated because we are demanding accountability and oversight,” Garcia said.
The disagreement comes as Democrats prepare to assume congressional control and consider potential investigations into the Trump administration.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also remains under scrutiny after surviving an impeachment effort in the House.
On Veterans Day, Hegseth faced criticism following a visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
Hegseth, his wife and other senior Pentagon officials were photographed at the tomb, with some members of the group reportedly heard laughing.
A sentinel guarding the tomb issued a reminder calling for silence and respect.
A Pentagon spokesperson responded by saying Hegseth and the entire Department of Defense will always honor the sacrifices of American military service members.
