Democrats Bank on Scott Colom to Flip Deep-Red Mississippi Senate Seat

Democrats are unusually optimistic about Scott Colom's chances of unseating incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi's U.S. Senate race, despite the state's deep-red political landscape. The Democratic candidate, a district attorney and former nominee for U.S. district judge, would be Mississippi's first Black U.S. senator since Reconstruction.

Colom has garnered attention from national Democratic figures, with former Vice President Kamala Harris and Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock campaigning alongside him. Former President Barack Obama also recorded a campaign ad for Colom, which was released earlier this month. Harris, during a rally in Mississippi, emphasized Colom's potential impact in the Senate, stating, "When you have a voice like his in that room, just think about the impact that's going to have on the decisions coming out of that room."

Mississippi has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1982, and Donald Trump won the state by approximately 20 points in 2024. Despite these challenges, Democrats point to Colom's qualifications and potential voter motivation among the state's significant Black population, which constitutes around 36% of residents, according to U.S. Census data.

A recent campaign ad for Colom's campaign, which has been turned into a campaign ad, highlights comments made by Hyde-Smith in a local news interview regarding rising prices. In the interview, Hyde-Smith suggested consumers could "pick another protein" when discussing higher costs for meat. The ad features voters responding critically to this remark.

Confidence in Colom's bid is reflected in an announcement by the Senate Majority PAC, a group aligned with Senate leadership, stating it will spend $1.2 million on an advertising campaign for Colom across broadcast TV and digital platforms. A spokesperson for the PAC cited Hyde-Smith's decade in Washington without passing significant legislation as a potential vulnerability.

Hyde-Smith's campaign dismissed the Democratic push as a "last ditch effort" by "Washington insiders" to support a "failing campaign." The campaign pointed to Hyde-Smith's legislative record, noting that her bills have often been passed as part of larger legislative packages.

An earlier point of contention between Colom and Hyde-Smith occurred in 2023 when she blocked his nomination for federal judge, citing his support for transgender rights and past endorsements from a PAC linked to George Soros. Colom, however, insists his Senate campaign is not motivated by a desire for retribution, stating, "It has nothing to do with the run for me... It's about the people in Mississippi."

President Donald Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in Mississippi, which his campaign has indicated is to show support for Hyde-Smith, who is expected to attend. Trump has expressed confidence in the incumbent senator, calling her "very popular."