Democrats Make Strategic Move in Mississippi’s Senate Race

Democrats have taken a bold step in Mississippi’s U.S. Senate race. This move reflects their offensive strategy in a state traditionally dominated by Republicans. The Senate Majority PAC, linked to Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer, plans to spend $1.2 million on a television ad campaign supporting Scott Colom. Colom, a district attorney, challenges Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith.

The ad campaign will begin Wednesday and continue until Election Day, aiming to highlight Colom’s achievements and criticize Hyde-Smith’s legislative record.
“Senate Majority PAC has been watching this race closely, and it is clear Colom is running a competitive race that has put Hyde-Smith on her heels,” said group spokesperson Lauren French.

This ad spending occurs late in the race, which has seen nearly $8 million in total expenditures. Colom outspent Hyde-Smith with $4.6 million compared to $3.2 million, according to AdImpact. Hyde-Smith’s campaign manager, Jake Monssen, expressed confidence that voters would reject Democrats’ agenda.
“Team Cindy is confident that voters will reject this radical agenda at the ballot box on November 3rd,” he said.

Hyde-Smith’s Vulnerabilities

Cindy Hyde-Smith, appointed and then elected in 2018, seeks reelection in a challenging political climate for Republicans. Though Donald Trump secured Mississippi by nearly 23 percentage points in the 2024 presidential race, Hyde-Smith underperformed Trump by 6 percentage points in 2020. These factors make her vulnerable in this election.

The new television ad accuses Hyde-Smith of legislative inaction. A narrator in the ad criticizes her record, saying,
“A decade in power, Hyde-Smith hasn’t passed one piece of legislation, but she did vote to kick people off Medicaid.” The ad will air on statewide television stations, supplemented by a digital campaign.

Boost from High-Profile Democrats

Colom’s campaign has attracted support from high-profile Democrats. Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock recently campaigned with Colom; Kamala Harris, having served as Biden’s vice president, plans to rally with him soon. Colom’s campaign manager, Gerard Henderson, stated, “We clearly have the resources and momentum to win,” citing the volunteer efforts driving the campaign.

This race comes as Democrats face a Senate less favorable map this year. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority. However, economic challenges under a Republican administration offer Democrats hope.

Among Democrats’ moves, the Senate Majority PAC invests in traditionally conservative areas like Kansas. Adam Hamilton, a Democratic candidate, seeks to outmaneuver Republican Sen. Roger Marshall.

Colom could make history as Mississippi’s first Black senator since the Reconstruction era. Despite this possibility, some Democrats express frustration at national groups for not investing more heavily in the South. Warnock mentioned this concern during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”