Democratic Prosecutor Scott Colom Challenges Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith

Democratic prosecutor Scott Colom is challenging incumbent Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith for her seat in the U.S. Senate in Mississippi. A former federal judgeship nominee, Colom is campaigning as an underdog focused on economic issues, specifically inflation, tariffs, and the absence of Medicaid expansion in the state.

Colom has secured high-profile Democratic support, including a fundraiser held by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and campaign visits from Senator Angela Alsobrooks. While Hyde-Smith maintains a significant fundraising advantage with $2.5 million compared to Colom's $850,000, Colom has outpaced the incumbent in individual contributions since the start of 2025.

Hyde-Smith's campaign manager, Jake Monssen, has dismissed the challenge, characterizing Colom as a liberal stooge of billionaire George Soros and outside interests. The outcome of the race is expected to depend on Black voter turnout, coordinated in part by the NAACP, and Colom's ability to attract a small percentage of white voters in a state historically dominated by white conservatives.