Scott Colom defeats Cindy Hyde-Smith, who blocked his judgeship over trans rights

Three years ago, Republican U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith used her Senate power to block Scott Colom from becoming a federal judge, citing his supposed position on transgender athletes. Now, Mississippi voters have chosen him to take her seat.

Colom defeated the incumbent, CNN projected Wednesday, delivering a Democratic breakthrough in one of the country’s most reliably Republican states. He will become Mississippi’s first Black U.S. senator since Reconstruction and the first Democrat elected to the chamber since 1982.

Decision Desk HQ reported Colom ahead by 4,499 votes as of 5:21 p.m. Eastern Wednesday: 49.18 percent to Hyde-Smith’s 48.72 percent.

Related: Cindy Hyde-Smith blocked Scott Colom from becoming a judge for being pro-trans. Now, he might take her Senate seat

The result reverses the power dynamic between two politicians whose conflict preceded this campaign. In 2023, Hyde-Smith withheld the “blue slip” required under Senate Judiciary Committee practice to advance Colom’s judicial nomination, despite support from fellow Mississippi Republican Sen. Roger Wicker.

As The Advocate reported, she cited his alleged “opposition to legislation to protect female athletes,” alongside objections to George Soros-linked political support. The prosecutors’ statement Colom signed condemned criminalizing gender-affirming care and transgender people’s restroom use.

But Colom has also opposed some care for transgender minors. Responding to Hyde-Smith’s attacks, he told Mississippi Public Broadcasting⁠, “I believe in fairness in girls’ sports, and I don’t believe in gender-affirming surgery for children.” He did not explain what his position on sports would mean for trans athletes, instead accusing Hyde-Smith of trying to divide voters and distract from rising prices.

Related: Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith hides behind Capitol Police rather than answer a question about Nolan Wells

In September, Hyde-Smith repeatedly told The Don Lemon Show correspondent Daniel Grimes, “I don’t do hallway interviews,” as he sought comment on a grand jury’s decision not to indict anyone in the death of Nolan Wells, a Black Mississippi teenager.

Capitol Police intervened, with an officer stepping between Grimes and the senator.

During the campaign, Colom turned another Hyde-Smith statement into a memorable argument about affordability. Asked about rising beef prices in a February WLOX interview, she said shoppers had “so many proteins to choose from,” while discussing commodity fluctuations and Republican economic policies.

His October ad featured people responding, “Pick another protein?” Colom supplied the closing line: “Pick another senator instead.”