Scott Colom
Democratic
District attorney for Mississippi's 16th Circuit Court District since 2016
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U.S. Senate · Nov 3, 2026
U.S. Senate race in Mississippi
Incumbent: Cindy Hyde-Smith, running for re-election.
Independent Ty Pinkins was the Democratic Senate nominee in 2024 and left the party to run as an independent.
The 3 candidates
Cindy Hyde-Smith
RepublicanIncumbentU.S. Senator from Mississippi since 2018; former Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce
Ty Pinkins
IndependentAttorney and U.S. Army veteran; 2024 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Mississippi
Where they stand
What each candidate says they support or would do, on the issues they campaign on. Summaries use the same neutral words for everyone and link to the candidate’s own words.
AI verified
Researched with AI and confirmed by a second, independent AI check. Our editors haven’t reviewed it yet. How we verify
Health care
DemocraticScott Colom
Would vote to reverse the 2025 Medicaid cuts, restore the ACA tax credits that lower insurance premiums, and restore federal funding meant to encourage Mississippi to expand Medicaid.
RepublicanCindy Hyde-Smith
Supports repealing the Affordable Care Act and replacing it with a patient-centered plan that does not expand the federal government's role in health care.
IndependentTy Pinkins
Supports the Medicare for All Act to guarantee every American access to healthcare, and says healthcare is a human right.
Foreign policy
DemocraticScott Colom
Would require a vote of Congress before the United States goes to war.
RepublicanCindy Hyde-Smith
Supports Israel as a U.S. ally, supported moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, and says she will work to strengthen U.S.-Israel security, economic and cultural ties.
IndependentTy Pinkins
No published position found.
Taxes
DemocraticScott Colom
Would work to end federal income tax for Mississippians earning under $75,000, starting with teachers and law enforcement officers.
RepublicanCindy Hyde-Smith
Supports tax cuts, including the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and says she will keep working so families and businesses keep more of their earnings.
IndependentTy Pinkins
No published position found.
Abortion
DemocraticScott Colom
No published position found.
RepublicanCindy Hyde-Smith
Says unborn children have a right to life, opposes taxpayer funding of abortion, and would vote to confirm judges who share her anti-abortion view and apply the law as written.
IndependentTy Pinkins
Supports access to contraception, prenatal care and, when necessary, abortion care, and says pregnancy decisions should remain private. Supports expanding prenatal and postpartum care, family-planning services and maternal mental-health care.
Trade
DemocraticScott Colom
Would vote to return power over tariffs to Congress, saying tariffs are raising the cost of what Mississippians buy.
RepublicanCindy Hyde-Smith
No published position found.
IndependentTy Pinkins
No published position found.
Jobs & labor
DemocraticScott Colom
Would raise the federal minimum wage, which has been $7.25 since 2009, and tie it to the cost of living.
RepublicanCindy Hyde-Smith
No published position found.
IndependentTy Pinkins
No published position found.
Technology
DemocraticScott Colom
Calls for pausing new data center construction until companies agree to pay for their own power and water, disclose their deals and commit in writing to hiring local workers. Says a real person must answer for AI decisions and would get local prosecutors the tools and training to prosecute AI-enabled scams.
RepublicanCindy Hyde-Smith
No published position found.
IndependentTy Pinkins
No published position found.
Ethics
DemocraticScott Colom
Supports banning stock trading by members of Congress, their spouses and dependent children, barring senators from taking money from companies under federal investigation, a Senate ethics office with enforcement power, and overturning Citizens United.
RepublicanCindy Hyde-Smith
No published position found.
IndependentTy Pinkins
No published position found.
Crime & justice
DemocraticScott Colom
Supports backing law enforcement with the pay and tools to do the job, and says nobody is above the law.
RepublicanCindy Hyde-Smith
No published position found.
IndependentTy Pinkins
No published position found.
Immigration
DemocraticScott Colom
No published position found.
RepublicanCindy Hyde-Smith
Supports ending illegal immigration, a wall on the southwestern border and more funding to enforce immigration laws, and says people who want to live and work in the U.S. should enter legally.
IndependentTy Pinkins
No published position found.
Guns
DemocraticScott Colom
No published position found.
RepublicanCindy Hyde-Smith
Says she will defend Second Amendment rights.
IndependentTy Pinkins
No published position found.
Budget
DemocraticScott Colom
No published position found.
RepublicanCindy Hyde-Smith
Supports a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget.
IndependentTy Pinkins
No published position found.
Veterans
DemocraticScott Colom
No published position found.
RepublicanCindy Hyde-Smith
Supports policies that strengthen the military and give service members the training and tools they need, and says she will work to ensure veterans and their families receive the benefits they were promised.
IndependentTy Pinkins
No published position found.
Education
DemocraticScott Colom
No published position found.
RepublicanCindy Hyde-Smith
No published position found.
IndependentTy Pinkins
Would work to fully fund public schools, raise teacher pay, reduce class sizes, expand literacy programs and career and technical education, and invest in affordable pre-K. Opposes book bans and censoring curriculum.
Housing
DemocraticScott Colom
No published position found.
RepublicanCindy Hyde-Smith
No published position found.
IndependentTy Pinkins
Would push for more federal funding for affordable housing, update FEMA rules so Gulf Coast homeowners can repair and upgrade their homes to meet safety codes and better withstand storms, support new construction and rehabilitation of older homes, and cut taxes for middle-class families.
Agriculture
DemocraticScott Colom
No published position found.
RepublicanCindy Hyde-Smith
No published position found.
IndependentTy Pinkins
Would write federal farm bills with small family farmers in mind rather than large corporations, and opposes trade agreements that undercut Mississippi farmers.
Economy & cost of living
DemocraticScott Colom
No published position found.
RepublicanCindy Hyde-Smith
No published position found.
IndependentTy Pinkins
Would work to attract new industries to Mississippi, invest in skills training for the trades, and launch a summer apprenticeship program for 15- and 16-year-olds with local businesses.
Elections & democracy
DemocraticScott Colom
No published position found.
RepublicanCindy Hyde-Smith
No published position found.
IndependentTy Pinkins
Says he would work to restore civility and strengthen democratic norms, and supports free and fair elections whose results are respected, peaceful political discourse that rejects violence and extremism, and bipartisanship and accountability.
Environment
DemocraticScott Colom
No published position found.
RepublicanCindy Hyde-Smith
No published position found.
IndependentTy Pinkins
Says climate change is real and caused by humans. Would stop large tax giveaways to oil companies, invest in sustainable and resilient infrastructure, help farmers adopt climate-smart practices and back economic policies that press other countries to cut emissions.
Who’s on the ballot: sources
- ListMississippi Secretary of State: Sample Official Election Ballot, Federal and Judicial Election, November 3, 2026(opens in a new tab)
- ListMississippi Secretary of State: Candidate Qualifying List: all offices and candidates currently on file (2026 federal elections)(opens in a new tab)
- ListMississippi Secretary of State: 2026 Candidate Qualifying List (as of December 26, 2025)(opens in a new tab)
- ListWLOX: Hyde-Smith faces Colom, Pinkins in bid to keep Senate seat(opens in a new tab)
- ListWLOX: AP: U.S. Senate Incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith wins Mississippi's Republican primary election(opens in a new tab)
- ListWikipedia: 2026 United States Senate election in Mississippi(opens in a new tab)