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3rd place Mississippi Senate candidate says he did not spoil tight race for Democrat

9:29 PM ETConfirmedShare via:          

Politics Desk

In Short: Ty Pinkins, the third-place candidate in Mississippi's Senate race, said Wednesday he hopes Democrat Scott Colom wins the race, according to ABC News.

Pinkins claimed that a majority of his votes came from traditionally Republican counties in the state. "What we did in this race as an independent campaign, we did the opposite of a spoiler if you look at the data coming out of this race," Pinkins said.

"I think the race is close. Everyone should just hold their horses for a little while and wait for those affidavit votes to come in. They're going to be very important," Taylor said.

Our campaign, our volunteers, the people of Mississippi are not surprised.

The race is too close to call, with Colom leading by around 1,138 votes, according to The Daily Mississippian and Kcra.

Mississippi’s Senate race is very likely not to be called until at least November 10, said Julie Wronski, an associate professor of political science at the University of Mississippi.

Background

What's confirmed

• With only around 1,700 votes separating Democrat Scott Colom and incumbent Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in the hotly contested race, Pinkins, who currently holds around 20,000 votes, said Wednesday he hopes Colom wins the race, and said he may have actually boosted the Democrat's performance.
• Pinkins claimed that a majority of his votes came from traditionally Republican counties in the state. \"What we did in this race as an independent campaign, we did the opposite of a spoiler if you look at the data coming out of this race,\" Pinkins said.
• Mississippi’s Senate race between Democratic candidate Scott Colom and Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith is too close to call at the time, with Colom standing approximately at 1,138 votes ahead of Hyde-Smith with 96% of the state’s votes reported so far at the time of publication, per the Associated Press.
• Senate candidate Scott Colom said he wanted to hear from the Mississippians attending Trump’s rally on Monday with Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith.
• 26, 2026, en route to a campaign rally in Mississippi.
• "I think the race is close. Everyone should just hold their horses for a little while and wait for those affidavit votes to come in. They're going to be very important," Taylor said.
• President Donald Trump arrives to speak during a campaign rally at McMorran Place Sports and Entertainment Center, Sunday, Oct.

What's still developing

• 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events Independent Ty Pinkins, the third-place candidate in Mississippi's surprisingly tightly contested Senate race, says he does not believe he spoiled the race for the Democrat, and may have ultimately helped him in the final tally.
• According to the secretary of state's office, candidates cannot request a recount, and a recount cannot be automatically triggered in Mississippi.
• Mississippi State is 4-3 after losing three straight games.
• Wednesday, the two candidates were separated by 43 votes.
• Clinton has visited Mississippi before during an election season, including in 2016 when he campaigned in Jackson for his wife, former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
• Candidates may have representatives present for the vote count.
• Senate candidate Scott Colom listens during a maternal health roundtable at the Capital Club in Jackson, Miss., Aug.
• The office did share, however, that a candidate can perform "a ballot box exam" and examine ballot materials after the election is certified.

Sources

• ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videoslink
• BBClink
• Thedmonlinelink
• Warpbeatlink
• Tribuneledgernewslink
• Thescorelink
• Wloxlink
• Waptlink
• Sportsnautlink
• Kcralink
• Ottumwacourierlink
• Supertalklink
• Wxxv25link
• Goshennewslink
• WarpBeat — background on Michigan Rep Haley Stevens Endorses GOP Senate Candidate Mike Rogers link
• CNN — video link