GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith Wins Runoff Election In Mississippi

Republicans managed to hold onto the U.S. Senate seat in Mississippi. 

Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith won Tuesday's runoff election, beating her Democratic challenger Mike Espy. 

Mississippi is a deep red state, but the race between the two got pretty competitive. That was partly due to a couple controversial comments from Hyde-Smith, including a reference to a "public hanging."

Hyde-Smith was appointed to the U.S. Senate in April 2018, filling the seat vacated by Thad Cochran. She will now finish the remainder of his term, and be up for re-election in 2020. 

With her election, the party split in the U.S. Senate is set. As of January, Republicans will hold 53 seats, with Democrats and Independents taking the remaining 47 seats. 

Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.