Colom's Mississippi Senate lead grows to 3,041 votes over Hyde-Smith as Alaska stays uncalled

Democrat Scott Colom now leads Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by 3,041 votes in Mississippi's Senate race, with an estimated 98% of votes counted, CNBC reported. Neither Mississippi nor Alaska has been called. It is an update to our Nov. 5 report, when NBC's tally had Colom ahead 49.0% to 48.9% with 95.6% counted.

The Mississippi count

CNBC puts Colom at 49.11% and Hyde-Smith at 48.79%, with independent Ty Pinkins at 2.1%. The latest push came from Hinds County, the state's second-most populous county and home to Jackson, where commissioners were due to declare how many affidavit (provisional) ballots had been accepted or rejected. Colom was winning about 80% of the county's vote to Hyde-Smith's 19%, per CNBC.

Tuesday was the deadline for resolving affidavit ballots and for receiving mailed absentee ballots postmarked by Nov. 3. Headlines from The Hill and the New York Daily News on Wednesday also describe Colom's lead as growing, but exact totals differ by outlet and by the hour, so treat any single figure as a snapshot until the state certifies.

If Colom prevails, CNBC notes he would be the first Black senator from Mississippi since Reconstruction, and the first Democrat the state has sent to the Senate since John Stennis in 1982.

Alaska

In Alaska, CNBC says Democrat Mary Peltola leads Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan by 4,250 votes, 1.8 points, with 84% of the vote counted. She has 49% of the total. Because no candidate has cleared 50%, the race could go to a ranked-choice round in which the other candidates are eliminated and their voters' second choices are reallocated, per CNBC. We have covered the legal fights around that race in earlier reports.

What it changes

CNBC counts Democrats at a Senate majority of at least 54 seats in January, after seven flips of Republican-held seats. That majority does not depend on either unresolved race. Mississippi and Alaska would add to it, which matters for how much room Democratic leaders have on close votes and for nominations. What it does not do on its own is reach 60, the number needed to end a filibuster, so the practical effect of two more seats is at the margin.

What to watch

• Whether Hyde-Smith's campaign contests the count. We have not confirmed a lawsuit or recount request.
• State certification of the Mississippi result and any recount trigger.
• Alaska's remaining 16% of the vote and whether a ranked-choice tabulation is needed.

Sources: CNBC; headlines from The Hill and the New York Daily News. Vote counts are unofficial and change as ballots are processed. This is news reporting, not investment advice.