PURE JOY: Mississippi CELEBRATES as Scott Colom wins Senate race

at the site of the Colombe rally. at Tougaloo College in Jackson, Mississippi. He has been all over Mississippi. reporting on the election. and the painstaking vote count. in the state. Nnamdi, what's it like down there? You know, I gotta tell you, for the last several days, folks here have felt uncertain. and anxious as they were waiting. for this race to be called. And right now, all of that anxiety has. been replaced. with just unadulterated joys. Scott Cologne arrived moments ago. and literally when he arrived,

a horde of people ran to the gate to greet him. People here are just super, super excited. And I've been telling you a lot. about the energy we felt all the ground, but I want you to hear it firsthand. if you talk to some people around here. We are live on MS now. I'm wondering if I can ask the both of y'all how. you're feeling right now. The base. Of Scott Cullum support, where he dedicated so much. of his energy. It was talking to college students. Tell me how you feel right now in this moment. I just feel really excited. It almost feels surreal. Just seeing the process with everything.

and how students have been trying to. get everybody votes counting, everybody out to vote. To see the results of that comes to fruition, I'm just like it all. You're a senior. That's right, right? Tell me more about that. You mentioned students really were doing a lot. of the groundwork a lot. of the organizing telling me about the role. students here played yes i think. that students are a pivotal part. of this election because students were. the people that was going to different colleges. going to different places of the community. and advocating for our vote and making sure. that everybody knows that we are showing up to.

the polls and we are going to make sure. that our voices are candid and our voices are heard. Let me ask you, did you think you'd ever. see not. just a Democratic senator here. but a black Democratic senator here. in Mississippi? I definitely knew that it was possible. because I'm a person that likes to dream big, but seeing it here now today. like it's just really inspiring. for me to just reach for the stars. and not to limit myself because of who I am. And just to always just keep pushing. and keep striving because as we see. like anything is possible now, especially if you know you keep pushing, you're allowing the people around you and you just. always.

just push your best to the floor. I think that this is definitely inspiring for me. Thank you both for talking to me. We also have a lot of families here. I see you brought your daughter here. I'm doing what? What's your name? Benford Henry. So we are live on MS Now. Talk to me about why not only. you wanted to be here, but you wanted to bring your daughter. here as well. So for my daughter is a young black lady. I want her to know that anything is. possible as long as you guys strive. and you do the right thing that you can achieve. anything you want to. How are you feeling right now? You know, history is being made here. We're on Tougaloo College which has. such a storied history of civil rights here.

What does this moment mean to you? So for me it's a it's a real. like the young lady said to have. a black senator that's now senator. from Mississippi. I'm so lost for words right now. but to have a black senator from Mississippi. be one for everybody that's what I want to say. it's not just because he's black. but this is the man that's for everybody. so that's the most important part this man's. for everybody he's going to put money back. into the pockets of Mississippians so a man. for everybody that's what we want.

Yeah absolutely you feeling excited right now. she's excited too i just feel it trust me. and also oh i like your hats i'm gonna come. over here tell me how you're feeling right now. you have some history being you made here. I'm in the Senate. You're feeling like you're in the Senate. With Mr. Cologne. With Senator Cologne. If I had you to sum up how you feel right now. in a word, what would you say? I feel full and elated for the state. of Mississippi. Tell me about that. Why for the whole state of Mississippi,

not just Democrats, not just the black folks or the whole state? State of Mississippi. Change is inevitable. I'm new in the state of Mississippi. and I'm loving every minute of it. Tonight. I thought I'd wear my hat to... You're feeling patriotic. I'm feeling patriotic. Ma'am, let me ask you how you're feeling. I see you got your eye support SCOT, Cologne, did you feel like this was a possibility? I knew there was a possibility. How do you know?

I mean, I've worked on his campaign. I've talked to the people and he's the right. candidate and it's time. It's time. You mentioned you've been talking to people. I'm curious, this in your view, at what point did things start to feel different? Like, oh, this candidate may really. be able to. pull off what once felt impossible. Well, I mean, just listening to him and. knowing, that he's a man of God, and he feels that this is his time. It's time for change. It's time for change, and that's the message. you've been. hearing so much over the last couple of days.

Hey, I'm just going to come into Ruptor. WE'RE LIVE ON MS NOW, I'M SORRY FOR DISTURBING THE CONVERSATION. I WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU GUYS FEEL RIGHT NOW? GREAT! FANTASTIC! I FEEL HOPEFUL, I FEEL HOPEFUL, I AM AN OLD BAG, BUT SCOTT GIVES ME HOPE MISSISSIPPI. MIGHT ACTUALLY MAKE IT OVER THE LINE, THAT WE MIGHT GO SOMEWHERE. AND I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT HE'S RAN. AND THAT HE WON'T. I FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GETTING A BIT emotional can. you tell me what feels emotional.

about this moment i never thought it would happen. and i just never thought it would happen i mean. i voted for mike espy you know i voted. for so many candidates fine candidates who were. people of color over the years. and they just couldn't seem to get. past the color line and so i'm extremely. grateful that voters voters came out. for mr column i think he'll make a fabulous. senator i think he will be a mediator i think he will.

make mississippi very very proud. and he will not be a ghost on capitol hill can. i ask you sir what what do you think felt. different this go around why do you what do. you think felt different this go. around what do you think made it so scott. colomb was able to do what so many. democrats have tried but been unsuccessful. and was able to win i mean they're just. so many things i mean he's a great candidate. first of all i mean that's the main thing. and he ran a great campaign. but i mean you have to look at who his competition was.

and i. mean no nobody really even the republicans. didn't like her and it made it. and people were energized by scott. and you know everybody got out in. and supported him and voted for him. and I think that made the difference. All right and ma'am can I ask you. about this actually to sum up how you're. feeling in the word what would you tell me? Elated. Elated. I mean I'm just so happy and so thrilled.

I mean he worked hard for it you know a lot of. people work. for this thing and I'm just so happy. that world can see Mississippi. is not who you think we are. I've been hearing that so much how one. of the things folks love here is. that they feel like it's changing the perception. people had. about Mississippi about Jackson. can you tell me about that? Well I mean it's you always hear. the same thing well you know it's down. in Mississippi but believe it. or not you know Mississippi is. has advanced a lot and I mean this is this is. proof of it right? I mean and she isn't she was an awful.

candidate you know so we picked. another senator as opposed to another. They picked another senator and Chris I got to tell you. the excitement you. that we see in this room. It's what it's reflective of the excitement I felt on. the ground here. and the days I've been here. Scott Colum expected to start his remarks. anytime now and he's going to be talking to. a crowd very much so excited to hear from him. I've got to say, I am so grateful for you. being down there. and that was like the best five minutes. that we put on the air on this program.

maybe all year. So thank you for being there, Namdi Iguongo who's been reporting on this race. It was I WANT TO BRING IN NOW NONE.