Politics

Two Senate races still uncalled six days after the midterms — and they will set the size of Democrats' majority

Washington • November 9, 2026 • By Press Pass USA

The United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (file photo)

Nearly a week after Election Day produced a seismic shift in Congress, two U.S. Senate races remain uncalled — in Mississippi and Alaska — where Democratic challengers hold razor-thin leads over Republican incumbents, according to the Associated Press.

Control of the Senate is already settled: Democrats have secured 54 seats to 44 for Republicans, the AP reported. What the two remaining races will decide is how large the Democratic majority will be in the final two years of President Donald Trump's presidency — 54, 55 or 56 seats.

In Mississippi, Democratic challenger Scott Colom, a district attorney, leads incumbent Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by 2,574 votes, 49.1% to 48.8%, with 97% of ballots counted in the AP's latest tally, posted Friday, Nov. 6.

Mississippi is still counting. Mail-in absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day count if they reach election officials by Tuesday, Nov. 10, and Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson said 12,000 to 20,000 affidavit ballots — the state's term for provisional ballots — still need to be reviewed. Counties must submit certified results by Friday, Nov. 13. Mississippi is the only state in the country with no formal provision for a recount.

In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola leads incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan by 637 first-choice votes, 48.2% to 47.9%, with about 77% of ballots counted in the AP's tally as of Nov. 5. Tens of thousands of early and absentee ballots remain uncounted, with the next batch of results expected Monday or Tuesday.

Alaska's ranked-choice voting system adds another step: a candidate must win more than 50% of the vote to take the seat outright. If neither does, ranked-choice tabulation begins Nov. 18 under state law.

The Senate is not the only unfinished business from Nov. 3. Nineteen House races also remain uncalled, according to the AP, including Colorado's 4th District, where Trump-endorsed Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert trails Democrat Eileen Laubacher by about 3,000 votes.

Sources: USA TODAY, “Mississippi and Alaska Senate races remain uncalled. See results” (Nov. 9, 2026); Al Jazeera, “What’s delaying the US Senate election results in Mississippi and Alaska?” (Nov. 9, 2026); Associated Press tallies as reported by USA TODAY and Al Jazeera.