Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith won Mississippi’s U.S. Senate runoff election CNN projects. The contest centered around her actions and comments about the state’s racist past.

Hyde-Smith the victory will make her the first woman ever elected to Congress from Mississippi and defeated Democratic challenger Mike Espy. The victory also makes twenty four women in the Senate next year.

The victory gives the Republicans will hold 53 seats to Democrats’ 47 seats in the Senate in January. The GOP grew its majority in the Senate by two seats in the past midterm elections even as Democrats took control of the House.