Election 2026 live results: Democrat Colom leads Republican Hyde-Smith by about 1,000 votes in Mississippi Senate Race

GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith's campaign lawyers sent a letter Thursday to county Election Commissioners and Circuit Clerks in Mississippi asking them to separate, secure and preserve any affidavit ballots cast in the midterms.

The incumbent is trailing Democrat Scott Colom by around 1,000 votes, according to the current vote count.

Both sides indicating they are ready for potential litigation over the results. Mississippi does not have any rules or procedures for election recounts.

Affidavit ballots are provisional ballots in Mississippi that allow voters to cast a ballot even if they do not show up to the polls with voter ID or do not show up as a registered voter at their polling place. Both campaigns have indicated they feel the affidavit ballots could make a difference in the election results.

Hyde-Smith's lawyers said the affidavit ballots could be evidence in any potential contest of the election.

Mississippi's secretary of state has not immediately commented about the letters,

-ABC News' Oren Oppenheim

The Associated Press projected on Thursday that Democratic candidate Sam Forstag will win the election in Montana’s 1st Congressional District, becoming the first Democratic U.S. House member elected from Montana in more than 30 years.

Forstag is a former smokejumper and union leader who faced off against Republican Aaron Flint, a radio host and veteran who netted President Donald Trump’s endorsement.

In Nevada, Teresa Benitez-Thompson is projected by the AP to will win the election in Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District, which is one that Trump won by 14 points.

Benitez-Thompson defeated Republican David Flippo. No Democrat has ever represented this district before.

Two GOP held seats in Virginia also flipped to Democrats.

Democratic candidate Shannon Taylor is projected to win the seat held by GOP Rep. Rob Wittman in Virginia’s 1st Congressional District, according to the AP.

Democratic candidate and former Rep. Elaine Luria is projected to flip Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District held by Rep. Jen Kiggans, and will return to her old seat, the AP said.

-ABC News' Oren Oppenheim and Juhi Doshi

Democratic Sen.-elect James Talarico received more votes in the early vote than his Republican opponent Ken Paxton received in total, according to the Texas secretary of state's election results.

That means that even if a single vote was not cast for Talarico on Election Day, he still would have won, based on the data that is available.

According to the Texas secretary of state's election results, Talarico received 4,397,474 early votes cast; Paxton received 4,249,373 votes total.

ABC News projected Talarico won the Texas Senate race over Paxton with Talarico receiving 55% of the total votes compared to Paxton's 43% of the total votes.

-ABC News' Diana Paulsen

Democratic Rep. Pete Aguilar formally launched his bid to be the next majority whip, according to a letter sent to colleagues on Thursday.

Aguilar, if elected, would become the first Latino majority whip in American history.

The Democrat has been serving as the caucus chairman in the minority. He is running for the No. 3 job unopposed and is expected to receive vast support from his Democratic colleagues.

"With a Democratic majority, we’ll have the tools to rein in this out-of-control administration and investigate the agencies, officials and corporations that have been making life harder and more expensive for our communities. I look forward to working with each of you to deliver on our affordability agenda," Aguilar wrote.

-ABC News' Lauren Peller