Who is Scott Colom and what is Colom running on in the 2026 Mississippi Senate race?

Scott Colom is the Democratic candidate for Mississippi U.S. Senate. District Attorney for Mississippi’s 16th Circuit since 2015 (first Black DA there); Biden’s 2023 federal judicial nominee, blocked by Hyde-Smith. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

The race

• The seat: Incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith seeking re-election.
• Polling: Hyde-Smith 44, Colom 38, Pinkins (I) 7 (Data for Progress, Aug 5 to 15, 2026; left-leaning firm).

Why Colom is behind

• Mississippi voted for Trump by a wide margin in 2024 and hasn’t elected a Democratic senator since 1982; no sitting Mississippi senator has lost since 1942.
• Incumbency and money: Hyde-Smith has $2.54M cash on hand vs Colom’s $847K, plus Trump’s endorsement.
• Colom’s opening: Hyde-Smith has a net-negative favorability, and an independent (Pinkins, 7%) splits the anti-incumbent vote.
• Colom attacks her vote for Trump’s tax package and on tariffs and beef prices.

What Colom is running on

• Economy. Campaigns on higher wages and lower costs; would push to raise the federal minimum wage.
• Healthcare. Wants to protect health care and save rural hospitals.
• Tariffs. Says tariffs have raised costs and betrayed farmers.
• Taxes. Criticizes permanent tax breaks for the highest earners.
• Crime. Points to surging resources to prosecute violent crime as DA.
• Voting rights. Wants to protect ballot access, especially in Black communities.

In Colom’s own words

“I’m going to spend the next 60 days doing what Cindy Hyde-Smith won’t: standing in a room where any Mississippian can walk in.”

“when Mississippians hear about both of us, I win.”

The other candidates

• Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)
• Ty Pinkins (I)

Every race

See every Senate and governor race on the ballot, with each candidate’s chance of winning: the 2026 midterms at a glance.