Democrat Scott Colom Targets Senate Seat in Deep-Red Mississippi

Mississippi District Attorney Scott Colom is seeking to defeat Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in a Senate race that has not been won by a Democrat in nearly four decades. The 43-year-old argues that the state's 35% Black voting bloc and a perceived shift in the political environment could make the race competitive, despite President Donald Trump having carried the state by 23 points in the 2024 election.

Colom said the state has been written off by national campaigns, creating a cycle of low investment and poor results. > "It’s a chicken-and-egg thing. We don’t compete in Mississippi so we don’t do well, and then we say, ‘Well, we didn’t do well so we shouldn’t compete.’"

High-profile Democrats have visited the state, including former Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Barack Obama, who aired an endorsement ad. A Democratic super-PAC aligned with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced a $1.2 million ad buy to support Colom.

Democratic strategist Terrance Woodbury said there is growing activation among Black voters and frustration among some Republican voters that could affect the outcome. Charles Taylor, executive director of the Mississippi NAACP, noted that a victory would require strong Black turnout and about a quarter of the White vote.

Colom’s campaign has emphasized issues such as tariffs, minimum-wage increases, and health-care access. He has conducted dozens of town halls and used a mobile “Mississippi Matters” food truck to engage voters, including a satirical video that has drawn significant online attention.

Republican officials defend Hyde-Smith’s record, highlighting her work on infrastructure, rural health care, and conservative judicial appointments. Campaign manager Jake Monssen said voters are familiar with her achievements, while veteran Republican operative Austin Barbour warned that national Democratic visits could energize the Republican base.

Colom has raised nearly $4 million, allowing him to purchase statewide television ads, a rarity for Democratic candidates in Mississippi. He continues to campaign across the state, including at Jackson State University’s homecoming events, and says he is giving the race his full effort.