Colom Blasts Forecasters for Writing Off His Mississippi Senate Bid

Democrat Scott Colom isn't waiting for the scorekeepers. The Mississippi Senate candidate went after prominent election forecasters for rating his race against Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) as a long shot, saying their gloomy calls are kneecapping his bid before voters get a say.

Colom, a Black attorney, argues the write-offs do real damage beyond optics: they dry up donations and make it harder for Democrats to mount a serious fight across the South. He's held a narrow edge over Hyde-Smith, according to the outlet.

The clash puts a spotlight on the forecasters themselves, whose ratings shape donor confidence and media coverage long before ballots are counted. Colom's message is blunt — the people grading the race aren't the ones deciding it.