District Attorney Scott Colom (D) was declared the winner last night in the US Senate race in Mississippi, marking the first time a Black person has won a US Senate seat in Mississippi since 1874 and the first time a Democrat has won since 1982.

The AP called the election on Wednesday, with Colom receiving 49.2% of the vote with 99% of votes counted. The incumbent, Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), got 48.7% of the vote and an independent candidate got just over 2%.

The chain of events that led to Colom beating Hyde-Smith began in 2022, when former President Joe Biden nominated Colom to a US District Court seat in Mississippi. There is a Senate tradition that allows the two senators from a state to reject a judicial appointment in their state, and Hyde-Smith used that to block Colom’s nomination even though Democrats controlled the Senate.

Hyde-Smith said in a statement still available on her website that he’s “smart and well liked in his district” but too supportive of trans people’s rights.

“However, there are a number of concerns I have regarding his record,” she wrote. “As someone with a strong interest in protecting the rights of girls and women, I am concerned about Scott Colom’s opposition to legislation to protect female athletes.” She also claimed that Jewish philanthropist George Soros was funding Colom’s campaign. Soros is often featured in right-wing conspiracy theories.