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The 2026 U.S. Senate race in Mississippi is shaping up to be less of a contest and more of a collision—between two political brands with wildly divergent backers and philosophies.On one side stands incumbent Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, a staunch conservative with the endorsement of President Donald Trump. On the other, District Attorney Scott Colom, a Democrat from Columbus, whose candidacy is backed—at least historically—by progressive financier George Soros.
Colom’s entry into the race comes after Hyde-Smith blocked his 2022 nomination to the federal bench by President Joe Biden. Now, Colom is looking to settle the score, launching his campaign with a message centered on healthcare, education, and economic equity. But in Mississippi, where Trump remains wildly popular and national Democrats are viewed with suspicion, Colom’s uphill battle is steep.
The Soros Factor
Colom’s rise to DA in 2015 was fueled by an unprecedented $700,000 in support from the Mississippi Safety & Justice PAC—funded solely by George Soros. That level of spending for a single judicial district raised eyebrows across the state and cemented Colom’s association with national progressive efforts to reshape local prosecution.
Hyde-Smith cited this connection as one reason for blocking Colom’s judicial nomination, along with concerns about his opposition to legislation aimed at protecting female athletes. In Mississippi’s political climate, Soros’ name carries baggage that’s hard to shake—often invoked as shorthand for radical liberalism.
Hyde-Smith’s Stronghold
Hyde-Smith, who was first appointed to the Senate in 2018, has since won two elections and enters 2026 with the full backing of Trump and the Mississippi Republican establishment. Her campaign has already framed Colom as a recruit of national Democrats, eager to turn Mississippi into a battleground for progressive causes.
In a state where Democrats haven’t won a Senate seat since 1982, Hyde-Smith’s odds are strong. Even Brandon Presley’s 2023 gubernatorial run, which energized Democrats, ended in defeat—reinforcing the notion that Mississippi remains solidly red.
Political Theater and Real Stakes
Colom’s campaign kickoff included a staged phone call to Hyde-Smith—a stunt that drew criticism and a formal complaint from the Mississippi GOP to the Department of Justice. While the move may have been playful, it underscored the theatrical nature of modern campaigns, where viral moments often overshadow policy substance.
But beneath the spectacle lies a serious question: Can Democrats regain relevance in Mississippi? Colom is affable, articulate, and rooted in the state’s legal tradition. Yet, he’s not Presley, and Mississippi isn’t ready for a Zohran Mamdani-style insurgency. As one observer quipped, “Mississippi ain’t New York City.”
Final Word
Unless Hyde-Smith is caught in a scandal of biblical proportions, her seat is safe. As Edwin Edwards once said during his 1983 Louisiana gubernatorial run, “The only way I can lose is if I’m caught in bed with either a dead girl or a live boy.” He won. And barring a modern equivalent, Hyde-Smith likely will too.
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