Senate Democrats' top super PAC is injecting $1.2 million into Mississippi's U.S. Senate race with a late ad campaign, targeting Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith and boosting Democratic nominee Scott Colom. This move marks a significant investment in a traditionally Republican state as Democrats aim to flip seats and regain Senate control.
Democrats' Late Ad Blitz
WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats’ top super PAC announced a $1.2 million television and digital ad campaign Tuesday in Mississippi’s U.S. Senate race, marking the party’s most aggressive investment yet in a traditionally Republican state as it seeks to flip seats to regain control of the chamber. The Senate Majority PAC, aligned with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., will air a 30-second spot beginning Wednesday through Election Day, targeting Democratic nominee Scott Colom against Republican incumbent Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith.
The ad highlights Colom’s tenure as a prosecutor in Mississippi’s 16th Judicial District and labels Hyde-Smith as a “do-nothing” incumbent, according to a statement from the super PAC. The group’s spokesperson, Lauren French, stated that internal assessments indicate Colom’s campaign has forced Hyde-Smith into a competitive race. “Senate Majority PAC has been watching this race closely, and it is clear Colom is running a competitive race that has put Hyde-Smith on her heels,” French said.
Republican Response and Broader Context
Hyde-Smith’s campaign dismissed the late spending as ineffective. Jake Monssen, her campaign manager, responded that voters would reject “this radical agenda” at the ballot box on November 3. The Mississippi race is one of several deep-red states where Democrats are contesting Republican-held Senate seats, including Kansas, Alaska, Iowa, Ohio, and Texas, all of which Trump carried by double-digit margins in the 2024 presidential election. A Democrat has not won a Senate race in Mississippi since 1982, and Republicans have controlled both Senate seats since 1989.
Spending and Polling Context
Total spending in the Mississippi Senate race has reached approximately $8 million, with Colom outspending Hyde-Smith $4.6 million to $3.2 million, according to AdImpact data. Recent polling shows a tight race, with a Wedgwood Poll placing Hyde-Smith ahead 52% to 48%, while other surveys have shown single-digit leads for the incumbent. Colom has campaigned alongside Democratic Sens. Raphael Warnock and former Vice President Kamala Harris, emphasizing affordability as a central campaign issue.
Historical and Political Context
Mississippi remains one of the most Republican states in the nation, with Donald Trump winning 60.9% of the vote in 2024. However, Hyde-Smith underperformed Trump by 6 percentage points in 2020, when he lost the presidential election to Joe Biden. Democrats argue that her vulnerability stems from her alignment with national Republican priorities, while Republicans counter that her conservative record resonates with Mississippi voters. The race has drawn national attention as Democrats aim to secure a net gain of four seats to reclaim the Senate majority.
The Senate Majority PAC’s investment reflects a broader Democratic strategy to contest Republican-held seats in states Trump won decisively, leveraging his declining approval ratings and targeting races where local dynamics may favor Democrats. The outcome of the Mississippi race could signal broader trends in the 2024 midterms, particularly in states where Democratic candidates are seeking to overcome partisan disadvantages.