Overview of “The South Is Serving Up Another Loss for Trump”
Crooked Media’s Alex speaks with Jennifer Palmieri, host of Long Play, about Democrat Scott Colom’s narrow lead in Mississippi’s Senate race as officials count remaining affidavit and absentee ballots. They discuss delays and confusion in the state’s election process, Colom’s calm campaign, and what recent Southern races could mean for Democrats’ long-term organizing. At the time of recording, the result was not yet certified.
Mississippi’s Count and Election Delays
Mississippi’s deadline for voters to resolve affidavit ballots and for absentee ballots to arrive was 5 p.m. The state’s 82 counties handle much of the process independently, and there is no clear statewide count of outstanding ballots. Hinds County, which includes Jackson and has the state’s largest Black electorate, expected roughly 2,000 ballots to remain. Colom led by about 2,600 votes, and most Hinds County ballots were expected to favor him.
The hosts expected Hinds County to post results the following afternoon. Those results might give the Associated Press enough information to call the race before the counties’ official reporting deadline on Friday, though uncertainty about the number of outstanding ballots made that difficult.
Mississippi has no automatic recount; a candidate or party must sue after results are announced to seek one. Palmieri also recalled that in 2023, Hinds County ran out of ballots during Brandon Presley’s close gubernatorial race, underscoring longstanding concerns about election administration.
Voter Roll Purge and Colom’s Campaign
Palmieri said the Secretary of State’s office used Experian address data to remove more than 230,000 people from voter rolls, even though the data provider said it should not be used for that purpose. Some voters reportedly discovered their names were missing when they went to vote. Organizers estimated about 23,000 provisional ballots were cast, suggesting many affected voters may not have completed one.
Colom’s small campaign kept a measured tone during the count. He helped voters resolve affidavit ballots, visited college campuses and local businesses, and spoke about practical issues such as tariffs and support for farmers. Palmieri described him as a visible, steady candidate who was drawing interest and pride from people across Jackson.
What the Results Could Mean for Southern Democrats
Palmieri argued that a Colom victory would show what sustained local organizing can achieve. Mississippi organizers, including the state NAACP network, focused on increasing Black voter turnout while winning roughly a quarter of the white vote. She said the effort drew on deep local roots, including connections to the civil rights movement.
The conversation also examined Democratic underinvestment across the South. Alex contrasted the limited national support for Florida gubernatorial candidate Dave Jolly with the much larger Republican spending in that race. Palmieri said Mississippi and Louisiana could offer opportunities for greater investment, especially in state legislative races scheduled for 2027. Stronger state-level representation, she argued, could help address issues affecting residents of these often-poor states.
Key Takeaways
- Colom appeared poised to win, but the count was still underway and official certification had not occurred.
- Mississippi’s decentralized process and unknown ballot totals made it hard to assess when the race could be called.
- The voter roll purge and past ballot shortages heightened concerns about access and election administration.
- Palmieri credited local organizing and candidate outreach for building momentum in Mississippi.
- The hosts saw the race as evidence that targeted, sustained investment could improve Democratic prospects across the South.