Scott Colom, a Democratic prosecutor and Black candidate, is mounting a challenge against Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi’s 2026 Senate race. Colom grew up in the state with a Republican father and has spent his career in law enforcement, but is now seeking to represent Mississippi as a Democrat at a time when the state has been firmly under Republican control for generations.
Colom’s campaign centers on economic grievances and accountability, arguing that Hyde-Smith has failed to address inflation, tariffs affecting farmers, healthcare gaps, and other concerns affecting Mississippians. He is attempting to position himself as independent of partisan extremes, citing his prosecution of a Democratic sheriff as evidence that he prioritizes principle over party loyalty. Hyde-Smith’s campaign, through her manager Jake Monssen, counters that Colom is beholden to national Democratic leaders like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and billionaire donor George Soros, and frames the Democrat as supporting policies on gender transition, tax increases, and healthcare for undocumented immigrants that are out of step with Mississippi voters.
The race presents unusual dynamics for a Deep South state. Black voters comprise approximately 37 percent of Mississippi’s population and roughly one-third of typical general election electorates—a larger share than any other state—though they vote at lower rates than white voters. Strategists note that increased Black voter registration and turnout could narrow recent margins. Recent Republican statewide victories have been narrower than historical norms, with Governor Tate Reeves winning reelection by just 3 percentage points in 2023. Hyde-Smith previously defeated Mike Espy, Mississippi’s first Black congressman since Reconstruction, by 7 points in a 2018 special election runoff and 10 points in 2020, though she underperformed Trump’s margin that year.
Financially, the candidates are competitive. Through June, Hyde-Smith had raised $3.8 million with $2.5 million remaining, while Colom raised $2.8 million with $850,000 left. Colom has drawn more from individual contributors and more from within Mississippi itself. National Democratic figures, including Maryland Senator Angela Alsobrooks, the state’s first Black senator, have visited to campaign for Colom, signaling that Democrats view the seat as competitive enough to warrant resources at the midpoint of Trump’s second presidency, when Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority.
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