Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith has won a divisive Mississippi runoff to remain in office.
In Tuesday’s race, 59-year-old Hyde-Smith defeated Democrat Mike Espy, a former U.S. agriculture secretary who hoped to become Mississippi’s first African-American senator since Reconstruction.
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The win allows Hyde-Smith to complete the final two years of Sen. Thad Cochran’s six-year term. Cochran retired in April. Hyde-Smith was appointed to temporarily succeed him.
The win makes her the first woman elected to Congress from Mississippi.
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The runoff was rocked by a video showing her praise a supporter by saying she’d attend a “public hanging” if he invited her. She called it an “exaggerated expression of regard.” The comment made Mississippi’s history of racist lynchings a runoff theme.
President Donald Trump endorsed Hyde-Smith and rallied for her after the comments became public.
Republicans will now hold 53 of 100 Senate seats.
President Donald Trump congratulated Hyde-Smith on her election win.
Espy said he’s proud of the “historic campaign” he ran and is thanking supporters for their help.
WATCH: Democrat Mike Espy delivers concession speech following loss in Mississippi special election
He said he called Hyde-Smith to congratulate her and that she has his prayers.
Espy said this wasn’t the result he and his supporters were hoping for but added, “I’m very proud of this historic campaign.”
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