From: Democracy Docket <newsletters@democracydocket.com>
Subject: LIVE: We’re on the ground in Mississippi as ballot fight begins
Date: November 5, 2026 at 6:03:34 PM EST
Thursday, November 5
By Andrew Wyrich · Newsletter Editor
Hello, pro-democracy readers! Two major attacks on voting are playing out right now. In Mississippi, the GOP’s strategy appears to be to throw out as many Democratic votes as possible in the razor-thin Senate race. Democracy Docket reporter Jacob Knutson is live from the state, giving you the latest updates. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is doubling down on his administration’s attempt to block Democrats from potentially winning Alaska’s Senate race.
Make sure to tune in tonight as Marc goes live on YouTube at 6:30 p.m. EST, where he’ll discuss the latest in Mississippi and much more.
All that and more is on the docket today. See you tomorrow!
Live updates: Ballot battle begins in Mississippi Senate race
Mississippi’s Senate race is nail-bitingly close — and the legal and political battle over the count has already kicked off.
Democrat Scott Colom’s extremely narrow lead over Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith means the victor could be decided by a handful of ballots that have been set aside for various technical deficiencies. Here’s how the process of getting ballots “cured” works.
Republicans held a press conference Thursday to demand that election officials “separate and preserve” all provisional ballots cast in the contest. Their strategy seems to be simple: Push to get as many Democratic votes as possible thrown out.
Thousands of Mississippians — whose votes may decide the race — are still waiting to have their ballots counted. That’s because the Republican secretary of state had a contract to use credit-reporting agency Experian’s error-riddled data to clean its voter rolls. That led to thousands of voters mistakenly being put on “inactive” status in the months leading up to the election.
We’re on the ground in Jackson, with up-to-the-minute news on the fight to make sure Magnolia State voters’ ballots — and voices — are protected.
WATCH: Jacob explains what’s at stake in a new video outside of the courthouse.
➤ Follow our live updates from Mississippi
Harmeet Dhillon, leader of Trump’s failed voter roll crusade, resigns from Justice Department
Dhillon leaves behind an aggressive anti-voting agenda whose most prominent objectives largely failed. Under her leadership, the division abandoned or withdrew from lawsuits defending voting rights, while veteran attorneys were reassigned and resources increasingly shifted toward investigating allegations of voter fraud.
➤ More on Dhillon’s resignation
After midterm rout, Trump doubles down on Alaska Senate seat scheme
As Republicans lick their wounds following a resounding midterm defeat, Trump doubled down on his dangerous bid to block Democrats from winning one of the outstanding contests: Alaska’s U.S. Senate race.
In a social media post today, he called for Alaska to transfer all votes cast for Daniel J. Sullivan to incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan (R).
➤ The latest in Alaska’s Senate race
Check out our members-only section of the website and explore premium newsletters from Marc and the Democracy Docket team.
From Marc: Trump’s Alaska meltdown says it all
“If you want to understand just how big the Blue Tsunami will end up being, look no further than Donald Trump’s latest delusional rant,” Marc writes in a new analysis piece, later adding: “There is a certain irony in Trump, who weaponized his entire government to try to undermine the election nationwide, now seeking a ‘fair solution’ in another Senate race his party is set to lose.”
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Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego (D) said Democrats were so surprised they gained control of the state legislature that they “won in districts that we didn’t know existed.” The party had to “call up some of our friends that we put up as sacrificial lambs and tell them that they won.”
If you needed any more reminders just how decisive the Democrats’ win was: A nominee for an Iowa state House race who suspended his campaign in September for health reasons was elected. He defeated the Republican candidate by around 9%.
Here’s a headline that baffled me a bit: “Don’t Be Fooled. This Is What Trump Wanted.” He wanted a humiliating rebuke of his presidency and for Democrats to have oversight of his administration?
Today's newsletter was edited by Andrew Childers and Dave O’Brien, and produced by Leila Fusenig. Learn more about our staff here.
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