Mississippi Republican Party
Mississippi's state Republican Party, chaired by Mike Hurst; pressing counties over affidavit ballots.
The Mississippi Republican Party, through chair Mike Hurst, has warned it would "not hesitate to hold election officials accountable". Democrat Scott Colom led Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith by 2,990 votes on 10 November, and no suit had been filed.
Last refreshed: 11 November 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Timeline for Mississippi Republican Party
Demanded counties segregate and preserve affidavit ballots
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The Mississippi Republican Party put counties on notice through its chair, Mike Hurst, who said it would "not hesitate to hold election officials accountable". By 10 November 2026 Colom's margin over Hyde-Smith had reached 2,990; nobody had sued and Hyde-Smith had not conceded. On 5 November, lawyers for Hyde-Smith's campaign had written to all 82 counties telling them to keep affidavit ballots apart, in a letter the National Republican Senatorial Committee released. Elias Law Group, for Colom, answered that Mississippi law gave the demands no basis.
Hurst also serves as general counsel to the Republican National Committee, so the state party's chair is The National party's lawyer.
Mississippi recounts only on a court order, so preserved ballots are the raw material for any suit. Colom had led by under 100 votes when the count opened.
Who chairs the Mississippi Republican Party?
Why did Mississippi Republicans ask counties to preserve affidavit ballots?
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Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 11 November 2026. Editorial standards.