Mississippi Senate race stayed razor-thin as mail ballots remained
What's next: With no automatic recount and late-arriving mail ballots still valid, the winner may not be clear until Nov. 10.
Mississippi's U.S. Senate race remained unresolved Wednesday, with Democrat Scott Colom holding a lead of only a few dozen votes over Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith after a surprisingly close count. Hyde-Smith led early, but Colom gained ground as more ballots were processed. The contest drew national attention after President Donald Trump campaigned for Hyde-Smith in a state Republicans have long dominated. Mississippi does not provide for automatic recounts or candidate-requested recounts. The state can still count mail ballots postmarked by Election Day if they arrive within five business days, leaving the outcome uncertain until next week.