Nearly a week after Election Day, Mississippi's U.S. Senate race has been called for Scott Colom, a Democrat whose family roots in the state go back several generations, CNN and NBC News projected.
The longtime district attorney unseated incumbent Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith
in a narrow race after several days of ballot counting and back-and-forth banter. Colom, 43, will become Mississippi's first Black senator since the Reconstruction era.His victory widens the Democrats' Senate majority to 55 seats, compared with Republicans' 43.
A former prosecutor and judge, Colom is a seventh-generation Mississippian, according to his campaign.
Here's what to know about his family, including his wife and two kids.
Scott Colom's wife, Nadia Colom, is a realtor
Scott Colom and his wife Nadia Colom have
been married since October 2014, according to social media posts. Nadia Colom is a realtor and property manager for Potter Property Management, per the company's website.
A Jackson State University alumna, Nadia Colom worked in youth development and nonprofit leadership for 15 years before pursuing a career in real estate. She also has a master's degree from New York University, according to her bio on Potter Property Management's website.
Scott Colom called his wife his "rock throughout this journey" in a Nov. 3 Instagram post.
"Thank you, Nadia, for everything you do for our family, our community and Mississippi," he wrote.
Scott Colom has two young daughters
Scott and Nadia Colom have two daughters: Gwendolyn Lucille, 9, and Brooklyn Madison, 8.
Gwendolyn, who goes by Luci, will turn 10 years old in December. Brooklyn, who goes by Madi, was bornin August 2018.
The girls are the eighth generation of Mississippians in the Colom family, according to his campaign website.
Attorney parents, a twin brother: More of Scott Colom's family
In addition to his prominent legal career, Scott Colom comes from a family of successful attorneys.
His mother, Dorothy Colom, is a retired judge and the first African-American elected to Mississippi's 14th Chancery District, according to his campaign website.
Dorothy Colom previously worked as a faculty member in African American Studies at Mississippi State University, according to an archived faculty page. A graduate of Roanoke College in Virginia, she earned her Juris Doctor from Antioch School of Law in Washington, DC.
His father, Wilbur Colom, is also an attorney. He is the founding partner of Colom Law Firm, which has offices in Mississippi and Georgia.
Wilbur Colom is also a former Republican who worked for former President Ronald Reagan, according to Scott Colom's campaign website.
Scott Colom has a twin brother, Andrew Colom, who has worked with him on his campaign. A developer who lives in Detroit, Andrew Colom helped with his brother's viral campaign ads, including the "pick another protein" clip.
Another, "Sinators," a parody of the movie "Sinners", featured the brothers fending off Republican challenger, Hyde-Smith.
Of his brother, Andrew Colom told The Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network: "I'm just really, really, really ecstatic that he maintained his flow state, he trusted the right people at the right time, and he cemented an honor on the Colom name that was always meant to be there."
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. Keep up with her on Instagram @bymelinakhan and TikTok @melina.khan2.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Meet Scott Colom's family, including his wife and 2 daughters
