Control of U.S. Senate may hinge on possible Mississippi runoff

A crowded U.S. Senate race in Republican stronghold Mississippi could set the stage for weeks of uncertainty over which party ends up controlling the upper chamber of Congress after the Nov. 6 elections.

Two Republicans and two Democrats are contesting a special election to serve out the remainder of retired Republican Senator Thad Cochran's term. Under state law, if no one gets 50 percent of the vote, the top two candidates regardless of party affiliation will go to a Nov. 27 runoff.

It is a scenario that could focus international attention on the Southern state and bring in millions of dollars from outside political groups.

"Mississippi could be the deciding factor in who controls the Senate," said Melissa Scallan, a spokeswoman for Republican U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, who was appointed by Mississippi's Republican governor to temporarily replace Cochran after he retired on April 1.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/control-of-us-senate-may-hinge-on-possible-mississippi-runoff/ar-BBOXPs4?li=BBnb7Kz