Mississippi Democrat Scott Colom has narrowly defeated Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith to flip another Senate seat for Democrats.

According to figures from the Associated Press, Colom won 49.2% of the vote in the closely contested contest, which was called more than a week after Election Day. Hyde-Smith trailed on 48.7%.

Mississippi — one of the reddest states in the country — wasn't really on the national radar prior to the elections. However, early results showed the two candidates separated by as few as 43 votes, indicating a shock was brewing.

The outcome expands Democrats' total number of Senate seats to 55, following a midterms rout that has seen the GOP lose control of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House.

Colom becomes the first elected Black U.S. senator in Mississippi in more than 140 years.

In recent days, Colom had repeatedly expressed confidence that his campaign would prevail...