Senate race · 2026

Mississippi Senate Race

Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith is seeking re-election for her second full term. The race is considered a wildcard matchup as Republicans defend their Senate majority, with Democrat Scott Colom aiming for an upset in a reliably Republican state.

All 2026 races

3 candidates · what each one campaigns on

Scott Colom

Democrat

Currently: District Attorney for Mississippi's 16th Judicial District

Scott Colom is the district attorney for Mississippi's 16th Judicial District and would be the state's first Black senator in nearly 150 years if elected.

Campaign platform

Abortion Rights
Supports IVF access and believes women should be trusted to make choices regarding abortion, despite personally being pro-life.
HealthSource
Criminal Justice Reform
Expanded pre-trial diversion and victims’ advocacy programs and established Mississippi’s first restorative justice program as district attorney.
JusticeSource
Government Investment
Advocates for increased government investment in good-paying jobs and education and wants to fight for low gas prices.
EconomySource
Public Education Funding
Supports using federal funding for Mississippi public education and criticized a Trump administration funding freeze that cut $137 million for school districts.
EducationSource
Tax Relief for Educators/Police
Proposes eliminating income tax for teachers and police officers earning less than $75,000 annually to address retention issues.
EconomySource

Campaign site Ballotpedia profile

Cindy Hyde-Smith

Republican · Incumbent

Their record

Currently: U.S. Senator

Cindy Hyde-Smith is the incumbent U.S. Senator for Mississippi, appointed in 2018 and later winning a special election to become the first woman from Mississippi to serve in Congress.

Campaign platform

Abortion Ban
Believes all children, including the unborn, have a right to life, chairs the U.S. Senate Pro-Life Caucus, and opposes taxpayer funding of abortions.
HealthSource
Support Mississippi agriculture
A former state agriculture commissioner who backs policy for the state's farming and forestry economy.
Agriculture & RuralSource
Limited Climate Action
Voted to end Biden-era clean energy tax credits, supports Trump's efforts to increase oil drilling, and criticizes the 'Green New Deal'.
EnvironmentSource
Rural community investment
Supports infrastructure, health and economic development funding for rural Mississippi.
Agriculture & RuralSource
Law Enforcement Funding
Supported funding to improve technology and training for law enforcement and sponsored a bill to incentivize the use of body cameras and improved training.
JusticeSource
Tax cuts for working families
Backs the Working Families Tax Cut Act to lower federal taxes for Mississippi households.
EconomySource
Free Markets & Subsidies
Supports 'free markets' but also called for subsidies for farmers and introduced the Buying American Cotton Act providing tax credits.
EconomySource
Education Improvement
Believes the federal government should support states' efforts to improve education.
EducationSource

Campaign site Ballotpedia profile

Ty Pinkins

Independent

Ty Pinkins previously ran as a Democrat and is now running as the only Independent candidate in the U.S. Senate race.

Campaign platform

Medicare for All
Supports a Medicare for All system covering every American regardless of income or location.
Health CareSource
Independent swing vote
Argues an independent senator can force both parties to negotiate instead of deadlocking.
Democracy & GovernmentSource
Personal financial transparency
Voluntarily discloses his income sources to show he has no special-interest conflicts.
Democracy & GovernmentSource

Campaign site Ballotpedia profile

Platform items are drawn from candidates’ own campaign materials and public reporting, summarised neutrally. They are what a candidate says they will do — not a judgement about whether they will do it. Once a candidate is serving in Congress, their record moves to the The Informed Ballot profiles.