The U.S. Senate race in Mississippi, typically not considered a competitive battleground, is drawing attention as Democratic nominee Scott Colom challenges Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith. This contest, along with others, reflects a broader Senate map than either party initially anticipated.
Democrats need to gain at least four seats to secure a Senate majority, a number that increases if they lose any seats they currently hold. This expansive map is partly attributed to voter dissatisfaction with the economy, including the cost of groceries, gas, and housing, according to Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, a Democrat who campaigned for Colom in Mississippi.
Republicans, however, express confidence in holding their majority. Senate Majority Leader John Thune suggested that an expanded map could strain Democratic resources, making it difficult for them to flip the necessary seats.
In Mississippi, Colom, a district attorney, aims to become the state's first Black senator since Reconstruction and its first new Democratic senator since the 1940s. To challenge Hyde-Smith, who was first appointed and then elected in 2018, Colom needs to increase fundraising to introduce himself to voters and campaign on airwaves. While Mississippi remains a state where retail campaigning is effective, television advertising costs are lower than in larger states.
Colom's path to victory involves increasing Black voter turnout and securing a larger share of the white vote than typically seen for Democrats in the state. He argues that Hyde-Smith's alignment with former President Donald Trump and policies contributing to higher gas prices and difficulties in obtaining health insurance create an opening.
Hyde-Smith, meanwhile, is employing a strategy of portraying Colom as too liberal for Mississippi. The state's election laws, requiring a majority to win statewide contests, also present a scenario where Colom could win outright or force a runoff with minor candidates on the ballot.
The shifting Senate map also includes races in other states. In Iowa, a famously Republican state that has trended further right under Trump, Democrats have nominated state lawmaker Josh Turek to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, who has Trump's endorsement. Despite Iowa's rightward shift, the state has a history of electing Democrats, including in congressional races during Trump's first term.
Kansas, another Republican-leaning state, sees Democratic Senate nominee Adam Hamilton challenging incumbent Republican Sen. Roger Marshall. Hamilton, a prominent minister and author, is running for office for the first time. While Marshall benefits from the state's political fundamentals, he is seeking reelection for the first time.
In Nebraska, where no official Democrat is running, national Democrats are backing independent Dan Osborn, a former labor union chief, in his bid to unseat Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts. Osborn previously ran against Republican Sen. Deb Fischer in 2024. This approach aims to capitalize on voter fatigue with Trump and the Republican party's agenda, contrasting Osborn's labor background with Ricketts' wealth. Although Osborn has not committed to caucusing with Senate Democrats, his candidacy could deny Republicans a seat. Nebraska has a history of electing moderate senators, with the last Democratic senator, Ben Nelson, retiring in 2013.