Colom vs Hyde-Smith: $5M Dem Push Targets Black Voters in Mississippi Senate Race

Voters in Mississippi will decide the fate of a U.S. Senate seat on November 3, a contest that has drawn a sudden influx of national attention and funding. The state, which contains the highest share of Black voters in the country at nearly 40%, has become a focal point for both parties as they race to influence the outcome. For a rural and agriculture-heavy state with some of the lowest incomes in the nation, the stakes are high given the recent rise in prices.

Scott Colom, the Democratic nominee and a district attorney, is challenging incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith. Colom argued that Mississippi has long been overlooked by his party. He noted that while hundreds of millions of dollars were spent in other conservative-leaning states like Iowa and Texas, Mississippi received comparatively little support. "The reality is, Mississippi has never been a lost cause, we've been a betrayed cause," Colom said. He added that the party has not tried to win the state and that they spent almost nothing there.

In the final weeks of the campaign, Democrats have accelerated their spending. This month, Democratic groups have directed approximately $5 million into the race, compared to $3.2 million from Republican groups. The Democratic strategy relies on high Black turnout and a general dissatisfaction with the current administration. At a rally in Columbus on Thursday, former Vice President Kamala Harris joined Colom before about 1,000 attendees. Harris described the current presidential administration as "the most callous, corrupt and incompetent presidential administration we have ever experienced." She urged supporters to turn their anger into action with 12 days remaining until the election.

On the Republican side, President Donald Trump held a rally in Corinth to motivate the base. Hyde-Smith's campaign manager, Jake Monssen, expressed confidence in the incumbent's reelection bid. Monssen stated that Mississippians deserve to hear directly from the president about the consequences of electing Democrats. He described Colom as pushing "radical socialist policies." The Republican campaign has spent more than $1.3 million on an ad titled "Most Radical," which claims that violent crime doubled during Colom's time as district attorney.

Hyde-Smith framed the election as a choice between opposing ideologies. She told supporters that the choice was between socialism and capitalism, and communism and democracy. "Endorsements don't win elections, votes win elections," she said. Trump echoed this sentiment, warning that even if the incumbent is doing well, voters must show up to prevent surprises. "Sometimes when you think somebody's doing so well, nobody votes," Trump said. He urged the crowd to get out and vote to ensure a successful result for Hyde-Smith.

The race extends beyond the immediate election. It has become a central issue in debates over Black voting power in the South. Following a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that rolled back part of the Voting Rights Act, many Southern Republican-led states have redrawn congressional maps to limit Black voter representation. In Mississippi, Republicans have signaled plans to redraw state legislative and judicial maps after the midterms. Colom argued that these moves attempt to take power from voters and give it to leaders, a reversal of how democracy should function.

Despite the increased activity, historical patterns remain a challenge for the Democrats. The last Democratic senator from Mississippi was elected in the early 1980s, and the last successful Black statewide candidate was elected during Reconstruction. Even during the 2018 election cycle, which favored Democrats, Hyde-Smith won a special election for the seat by roughly seven points. The current contest is being watched closely as a potential test of whether elevated Black turnout and anti-incumbent sentiment can overcome these historical barriers.