Mississippi and Alaska Senate Races Remain Undecided as Republicans Fight to Save Two Critical Seats

WASHINGTON — Two fiercely contested U.S. Senate races remained unresolved Friday as Republican incumbents Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi and Dan Sullivan of Alaska fought to retain their seats following a devastating midterm election cycle that handed Democrats control of Congress.

With thousands of ballots still awaiting final tabulation, both contests have become critical tests for Republicans seeking to prevent further Democratic gains and restore confidence in the party's electoral prospects ahead of the 2028 presidential election.

In Mississippi, Democratic challenger Scott Colom maintained a narrow lead over Hyde-Smith, while former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola held a similarly slim advantage over Sullivan in Alaska. Neither race had been called as of Friday, leaving both Republican senators with possible paths to victory.

The uncertainty has intensified scrutiny of election procedures, ballot verification and the importance of ensuring that every legally cast vote is counted accurately.

In Mississippi, Colom led Hyde-Smith by approximately 1,936 votes Friday morning, according to local reporting. State officials estimated that between 12,000 and 20,000 affidavit ballots remained uncounted, leaving sufficient outstanding votes to potentially change the outcome.

Hyde-Smith's campaign has expressed confidence that remaining ballots, including votes from Republican-leaning counties, could ultimately deliver another term for the incumbent senator.

The Mississippi Republican Party has deployed more than 50 attorneys and election observers across the state to monitor the counting process and ensure compliance with election laws.

Republican officials have emphasized the need to preserve ballot records and maintain transparent procedures throughout the canvassing and certification process.

Mississippi's election rules allow certain voters who cast affidavit ballots without presenting acceptable identification at the polls to provide the required documentation by November 10. Eligible mail-in ballots must also meet applicable deadlines before being included in the final count.

Both campaigns have pledged to protect legitimate votes, although disagreements have emerged over how outstanding ballots should be handled.

The contest represents an extraordinary political challenge for Republicans in a state that has traditionally provided reliable support to the party in federal elections.

Hyde-Smith entered the election defending a seat Republicans had strong reasons to expect to retain. The unexpectedly close result has raised questions about voter turnout, campaign organization and whether dissatisfaction over household expenses influenced voters who previously supported Republican candidates.

For the GOP, losing Mississippi would represent another serious setback in an election already marked by substantial Democratic gains.

The situation in Alaska is equally dramatic.

With approximately three-quarters of the expected vote counted, Peltola held a narrow lead of roughly 600 votes over Sullivan. Associated Press figures published Friday showed Peltola receiving approximately 48.2% of the vote compared with Sullivan's 47.9%.

Those figures remain preliminary, and Alaska's election system means the final outcome could take considerably longer to determine.