Hello, and welcome to the US politics live blog.

Mississippi has elected Scott Colom, a Democrat, as its senator, adding to a wave of Democratic gains across the country in this year’s midterm elections.

He defeated incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith in the closely contested Senate race to become the state’s first black senator since the post-Civil War Reconstruction era, marking a historic moment for Mississippi and a major breakthrough for the Democrats in a traditionally Republican state.

“All I did was have the courage to imagine a night like this,” Colom said in his victory speech last night.

“I had the courage to believe in Mississippi. I had the courage to understand that we can show the country that Mississippi matters.”

Just over a week since the midterm elections, the Associated Press called the race after absentee and provisional ballots were counted.

“While this is not the outcome we worked for or hoped for, I respect the decision of Mississippi voters,” Hyde-Smith said.

You can read more about Colom’s grassroots campaign, his viral advertising strategy and how he reached voters at Trump rallies despite limited early backing from national Democrats here:

In other news:

• US defence secretary Pete Hegseth was admonished by a military guard after he and his entourage were seen laughing and talking near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where visitors are required to remain silent. The incident came days after Republicans blocked an attempt to impeach him.