Mississippi's Senate race has turned into a serious contest between Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democrat Scott Colom. President Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have joined the campaign effort, while both parties are spending millions on ads in a state where Republicans tend to win.
Trump even showed up in Corinth to back Hyde-Smith. He praised her record and took a swipe at Colom, mocking his name and casting him as a poor choice. But Colom went to the event himself, where he met voters waiting outside.
For Colom, the sudden attention is a big deal. The district attorney believes his state has been passed over for years and needs far more help. His campaign focuses on food costs, health care cuts, reduced aid for families, and the conflict in Iran.
There's a catch, though. Mississippi Democrats have had high hopes before. Mike Espy's Senate bid and Brandon Presley's run for governor both fell short. State GOP chair Mike Hurst sees little reason to expect a different result.
Money tells a more tense story. The Democratic-aligned Senate Majority PAC has spent heavily, while the Republican-linked Senate Leadership Fund has put over $1 million into local ads, per AdImpact. Democratic gains in Georgia and North Carolina have also drawn more attention to this race.
Mary Wallace Hodge, 79, a retired Columbus store manager, thinks Colom has made Republicans nervous. Even without a win, she views his campaign as a strong effort.
Hyde-Smith has a few advantages. She made history as Mississippi's first female senator and held a state agriculture post before taking over Thad Cochran's seat. Her role on a key federal spending panel lets her point to funds she helped bring into Mississippi.
Roger Wicker, the state's senior GOP senator, chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee and has also worked to bring federal resources home. Sharon Pannell, 57, a retired teacher, backs Hyde-Smith because she believes Trump needs allies in Congress.
Still, Hyde-Smith rarely speaks to reporters and has declined a debate with Colom. One farmer in Starkville even told her rival that television ads were his main way of recognizing the incumbent.
And there's a strange bit of history here. Hyde-Smith blocked Colom's path to a federal judgeship under Joe Biden. Without that lifetime post, he remained free to enter politics. Colom insists his Senate bid isn't about settling a personal grievance.
His beef with Hyde-Smith is more about how she handles the state's needs. He has branded her Cindy High Prices and built his pitch around Mississippi Matters, arguing that voters deserve more attention from Washington.
Then came the food ad. Asked about costly beef, Hyde-Smith pointed out that shoppers could pick other protein sources. Colom's team turned her answer into a 30-second clip where voters favor replacing their senator instead of changing their dinner.
That gag has made it onto posters and a campaign food truck, where customers can choose beef or chicken tacos. Kierra Robinson, 33, even brought up the ad when Colom visited her Jackson neighborhood and told him she liked his campaign.
Black voters could make a major difference. They account for roughly 40% of Mississippi residents, yet even Barack Obama's strong turnout effort delivered only around 43% of the statewide vote.
Carol Hall, 66, a retiree from Southaven, argues that low turnout explains much of the GOP's hold on Mississippi. She has begun canvassing for the first time, while fights over voting districts across the South have stirred further interest.
But Colom also needs people outside his usual base. Near Horn Lake, a young Catholic voter who opposes abortion was weighing concerns about a proposed data center. First-time voters discussed gas bills and the risk of a longer war involving Iran.
Roger Keesling is another voter worth watching. He backed Trump in the presidential race but attended a Harris event for Colom after seeing his ads during The Voice. His view of Hyde-Smith had soured, while Colom struck him as more focused on regular people.
A Democratic win remains far from certain. Yet the rallies, ad spending, and interest from some Republican voters suggest Mississippi's Senate contest is getting more attention than the state's usual political lean might lead people to expect.
Trump even showed up in Corinth to back Hyde-Smith. He praised her record and took a swipe at Colom, mocking his name and casting him as a poor choice. But Colom went to the event himself, where he met voters waiting outside.
For Colom, the sudden attention is a big deal. The district attorney believes his state has been passed over for years and needs far more help. His campaign focuses on food costs, health care cuts, reduced aid for families, and the conflict in Iran.
There's a catch, though. Mississippi Democrats have had high hopes before. Mike Espy's Senate bid and Brandon Presley's run for governor both fell short. State GOP chair Mike Hurst sees little reason to expect a different result.
Money tells a more tense story. The Democratic-aligned Senate Majority PAC has spent heavily, while the Republican-linked Senate Leadership Fund has put over $1 million into local ads, per AdImpact. Democratic gains in Georgia and North Carolina have also drawn more attention to this race.
Mary Wallace Hodge, 79, a retired Columbus store manager, thinks Colom has made Republicans nervous. Even without a win, she views his campaign as a strong effort.
Hyde-Smith has a few advantages. She made history as Mississippi's first female senator and held a state agriculture post before taking over Thad Cochran's seat. Her role on a key federal spending panel lets her point to funds she helped bring into Mississippi.
Roger Wicker, the state's senior GOP senator, chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee and has also worked to bring federal resources home. Sharon Pannell, 57, a retired teacher, backs Hyde-Smith because she believes Trump needs allies in Congress.
Still, Hyde-Smith rarely speaks to reporters and has declined a debate with Colom. One farmer in Starkville even told her rival that television ads were his main way of recognizing the incumbent.
And there's a strange bit of history here. Hyde-Smith blocked Colom's path to a federal judgeship under Joe Biden. Without that lifetime post, he remained free to enter politics. Colom insists his Senate bid isn't about settling a personal grievance.
His beef with Hyde-Smith is more about how she handles the state's needs. He has branded her Cindy High Prices and built his pitch around Mississippi Matters, arguing that voters deserve more attention from Washington.
Then came the food ad. Asked about costly beef, Hyde-Smith pointed out that shoppers could pick other protein sources. Colom's team turned her answer into a 30-second clip where voters favor replacing their senator instead of changing their dinner.
That gag has made it onto posters and a campaign food truck, where customers can choose beef or chicken tacos. Kierra Robinson, 33, even brought up the ad when Colom visited her Jackson neighborhood and told him she liked his campaign.
Black voters could make a major difference. They account for roughly 40% of Mississippi residents, yet even Barack Obama's strong turnout effort delivered only around 43% of the statewide vote.
Carol Hall, 66, a retiree from Southaven, argues that low turnout explains much of the GOP's hold on Mississippi. She has begun canvassing for the first time, while fights over voting districts across the South have stirred further interest.
But Colom also needs people outside his usual base. Near Horn Lake, a young Catholic voter who opposes abortion was weighing concerns about a proposed data center. First-time voters discussed gas bills and the risk of a longer war involving Iran.
Roger Keesling is another voter worth watching. He backed Trump in the presidential race but attended a Harris event for Colom after seeing his ads during The Voice. His view of Hyde-Smith had soured, while Colom struck him as more focused on regular people.
A Democratic win remains far from certain. Yet the rallies, ad spending, and interest from some Republican voters suggest Mississippi's Senate contest is getting more attention than the state's usual political lean might lead people to expect.
