Scott Colom win in Mississippi puts Democratic Senate control at 55-44, with the winner in one Senate race from last week election, in Alaska, yet to be determined. The result ends more than a week of waiting for the final count and gives Democrats a working majority with room to spare.
Why it matters
The margin in Mississippi was narrow. Colom led by about 0.5 percentage points, or some 4,600 votes, after 99 percent of ballots had been counted. It was one of the last races to be called, and the count dragged on as lawyers from both parties watched the remaining ballots.
The majority matters because it changes what Democrats can do. With 55 seats, the party can move legislation and confirmations without depending on every single member, and it has a stronger hand in negotiations with the White House. The margin also gives the party room to lose a vote or two and still pass its priorities.
What happens next
The majority also opens a path on trade that did not exist before. Prime Minister Mark Carney has welcomed Democratic control of Congress, saying it creates a political pathway for tariff repeal, although the duties remain in effect and the legislative hurdles are still high. To override a presidential veto, Democrats would need more than 20 Republicans in the House and 10 to 12 in the Senate.
For now, the count is nearly complete and the majority is set. Alaska is the last piece, and its result will decide whether the final number is 55 or 56. Either way, the Senate that takes office in January will look very different from the one that left.
The trade question will test the new majority quickly. Carney has welcomed Democratic control of Congress, saying it creates a political pathway for tariff repeal, but the duties remain in effect and the legislative hurdles are high. Trade talks collapsed in August 2026, leading to 50 percent American tariffs on about 20 billion dollars of Canadian goods, and Canada retaliated with levies as high as 50 percent on nearly 28 billion Canadian dollars of American products. A legal challenge against the use of Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 to impose the duties is ongoing but unresolved, and federal forestry funding of 6.5 billion dollars announced in November will not begin flowing until mid 2027.
