Summary
- Scott
Colom, Democratic DA in Mississippi, is running for U.S. Senate. - He
challenges incumbent Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in 2026. - Colom
criticizes Hyde-Smith’s support for Trump’s deficit-deepening bill. - He
promises higher wages and tax relief for teachers, law enforcement.
In a video announcing his campaign on Wednesday, Colom
attacked Hyde-Smith for supporting President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful
bill,” a comprehensive package of legislation that included tax breaks,
Medicaid cuts, and additional funding for deportations and national security.
“Her last vote is going to run up our debt, kick over
100,000 Mississippians off their healthcare and put our hospitals at risk all
so billionaires in California and New York can get a tax break,”
Colom said
of Hyde-Smith in his announcement video.
“That’s not who I am.”
Colom added that he will work to remove income taxes for
police enforcement and educators.
Colom is running alongside Ty Pinkins, a former Democrat who
declared earlier this year that he would run against Hyde-Smith as an
Independent. Pinkins is a veteran of the U.S. Army.
Colom’s campaign did not get any direct funding from Soros.
“We welcome Scott Colom to the race and congratulate
Senator Chuck Schumer and national Democrats on their recruit,”
Nathan
Calvert, the communications director for Hyde-Smith’s campaign, said in a
statement.
“Make no mistake — Mississippians know the difference between
conservative values that work and the liberal Biden/Colom policies that have
failed us.”
Colom wrote to Hyde-Smith to try to change
her mind, saying he didn’t ask Soros for the money and didn’t realize it would
go to his campaign.
After Colom signed a letter in June 2021 denouncing attempts
to ban gender-affirming care for transgender individuals, she also chastised
Colom for failing to support “legislation to safeguard female athletes.”
In a state where Republicans control both chambers of the
Legislature and all statewide positions, Colom is attempting to flip a seat.
The state has seen Democrats trying to establish themselves in recent years. In
2023, Gov. Tate Reeves was re-elected with just over 51% of the vote in a close
gubernatorial contest with Democrat Brandon Presley.
What key issues is Colom highlighting against Hyde-Smith?
Colom takes Hyde-Smith to task for approving legislation
tied to former President Trump. Colom argues that it would saddle the nation
with an unsustainable national debt, toss 100,000 plus Mississippians off
healthcare coverage, and enrich billionaires with tax breaks. For these
reasons, he supports a Mississippi first approach by raising wages, raising the
minimum wage, and extending federal tax exemptions to all teachers and law
enforcement.
Colom criticizes Hyde-Smith for voting against the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, which helped address magnolia state sore spots,
including the Jackson water crisis. He makes a pledge to think about healthcare
and hospitals in Mississippi.
Colom portrays himself as a practical Democrat that is
focused on Mississippi, who cares more about what is best for Mississippi than
necessarily being a follower of the party.
