Mississippi Senate Race Tightens as Anti-Trump Sentiment Builds

A U.S. Senate race in Mississippi has become a focal point for national Democrats, who are spending millions to challenge Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith. The state has not sent a Democrat to the Senate since the early 1980s, yet polling suggests the race is competitive for the first time in decades. Democrats have outspent Republicans this month, deploying approximately $5 million against the GOP's $3.2 million to target voters in the final stretch.

Democratic nominee Scott Colom, a district attorney, argues that the state has been overlooked by national parties in favor of states like Iowa, Texas, and Kansas. He told NPR that Mississippi has historically been treated as a lost cause, but he believes the current political climate offers a different opportunity. Colom is running against Hyde-Smith, who blocked his nomination to a federal judgeship during the Biden administration.

On Thursday, roughly 1,000 supporters gathered in a high school gym in Colom's hometown for a rally alongside former Vice President Kamala Harris. The crowd expressed frustration with the current administration, citing the war in Iran and rising fuel costs. Celestine Rice, an attendee, stated that the moral compass of the country is gone. Harris urged the crowd to turn their anger into action with the election 12 days away.

On Monday, President Trump joined Hyde-Smith and other Republicans in Corinth to energize the base. Hyde-Smith framed the contest as a choice between socialism and capitalism, noting that endorsements do not win elections but votes do. Trump warned supporters not to stay home just because the candidate is performing well. The Hyde-Smith campaign has spent more than $1.3 million on an ad titled Most Radical, which portrays Colom as too extreme.

The race carries weight beyond the immediate contest, serving as a proxy for debates over Black political power in the South. Following a Supreme Court ruling that rolled back parts of the Voting Rights Act earlier this year, Mississippi Republicans have signaled interest in redrawing state legislative and judicial districts after the midterms. Colom argued that voters should choose leaders rather than leaders picking voters.

Mississippi has the highest share of Black voters in the nation, close to 40 percent, which makes the state a key battleground. Ashley Kennedy Shelton, who runs a nonpartisan civic engagement group in Louisiana, said voters across the spectrum are tired. She predicted that voters would show up in large numbers because of their frustration with the status quo.

The vote is scheduled for next Tuesday, November 3. Both parties are anxiously awaiting results as polls show an anti-incumbent streak and a rise in Black turnout in states with early voting options.