Scott Colom Just Took Forrest County — Named After KKK Founder Nathan Bedford Forrest

Scott Colom Just Took Forrest County — Named After KKK Founder Nathan Bedford Forrest

Democratic candidate Scott Colom just won Forrest County, Mississippi — a county literally named after Nathan Bedford Forrest, the very first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. This massive victory in a deeply conservative Southern county is sending shockwaves through the 2026 midterms, proving that local political landscapes are shifting faster than anyone predicted.

For more on how the 2026 midterms are playing out across the country, check out our coverage of Lauren Boebert's shocking loss in Colorado and the big push to bypass the Electoral College.

Why Forrest County's Name Has Always Been Heavy

Nathan Bedford Forrest was a Confederate general, a brutal pre-war slave trader, and the original Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan during the Reconstruction era. Back in 1908, local leaders named Forrest County, Mississippi, after him. Because of that dark history, civil rights activists and local groups have spent decades fighting to rename the county or take down Confederate monuments.

Colom taking this county is a massive cultural and political moment for the region. Forrest County isn't just any regular spot—it includes the majority-Black city of Hattiesburg and the University of Southern Mississippi, making this win a huge statement about changing demographics and voter energy.

To dig deeper into civil rights history in the Deep South, read our coverage on past civil rights watchdogs and political accountability.

Who is Involved in the Mississippi Senate Showdown

Here are the key people and organizations at the center of this historic Mississippi race:

• Scott Colom (Democratic candidate and former district attorney driving massive voter turnout)
• Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican incumbent U.S. Senator defending her seat in a nail-biter)
• Ty Pinkins (Independent candidate pulling a crucial share of the statewide vote)
• Ashton Pittman (Investigative journalist at the Mississippi Free Press tracking local voting shifts)
• Key Groups & Entities: Mississippi Free Press, State Democratic Executive Committee, Forrest County election boards, and local voter mobilization networks.

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