08-05-2025
State prosecutor blocked by Hyde-Smith for judgeship may challenge her in 2026 Senate Race
Lowndes County District Attorney Scott Colom may challenge Cindy Hyde Smith for U.S. Senate in 2026.
Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman Cheikh Taylor said Colom recently told him that he intends to run, and U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, in an interview with the New York Times, said he wants Colom to run.
Several other sources, including high-ranking Democrats and those close to Colom said he is heavily considering a run against Smith.
If he does, Colom would be joined in the primary by Democrat Ty Pinkins, who unsuccessfully ran for Senate last year against Republican incumbent Senator Roger Wicker. Pinkins announced his intention to run in 2026 earlier this year.
"(Colom is) a very experienced attorney, very experienced DA, and I think the caveat that separates the two is the ability to raise money," Taylor said.
Several of Colom's party colleagues and at least one GOP political strategist have concerns over his name recognition and chance of beating a two-time winning incumbent. In 2020, Smith beat Mike Espy, a well-known Mississippi Democrat and former congressman who raised millions on the campaign trail.
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'It makes it extremely difficult for someone who has virtually no statewide name ID to run against an incumbent U.S. senator in Mississippi," said Austin Barbour, a political strategist and lobbyist.
Colom did not respond to a request for comment on Schumer's endorsement or for this story.
Colom was elected to be the district attorney for Lowndes, Oktibbeha, Clay and Noxubee counties in 2015, becoming the district's first Black prosecutor.
In 2023, he beat Republican challenger Jase Dalrymple with more than 55% of the total votes.
Taylor and Mississippi House Minority Leader Robert Johnson both said Colom is a middle-of-the-road Democrat, with moderate views, family values and has a public service-oriented career to fall back on.
That would also, in some areas, be the case for Pinkins, who was a career military man and attorney in the Delta for years before running for both statewide and federal office.
Johnson said Colom would stand out from Pinkins because of his roughly 10 years in public office.
However, both Johnson and Taylor acknowledged it would be difficult to build campaign funds, but they are confident Colom is up for it.
"I think Brandon Presley proved (we can receive large campaign donations) when running against an incumbent in 2023," Johnson said. "That was the beginning of a movement, and I think that the framework has been put out there, but I think that's the only thing that we're still lacking, are resources (for upcoming races)."
Earlier this week, The New York Times published an article revealing the national Democratic Party's intent to tackle several Southern states with strong candidates and a wallet full of campaign cash.
Taylor confirmed Mississippi is part of the play, and he is talking with national Democrats on investment figures and projects. In elections past, the party has received millions from Democratic supporters.
"National donors are willing to actually look at the South as a whole in a way like never before, especially the state of Mississippi," Taylor said. "We're being coined the new Georgia."
Taylor and Johnson said they also hope to absorb disgruntled Mississippi conservatives unhappy with President Donald Trump's policies.
'(Trump's) approval rating is taking an all-time low, and if (his endorsement and support) is what (Smith is) relying on, that may adhere to the benefit of Scott Colom by the time of this election," Johnson said.
Barbour said while Democrats in some states might capitalize on shifting political allegiances, it wouldn't happen as quickly as state Democrats need to overcome serious challenges in a 2026 Senate race.
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'I think his popularity in Mississippi is going to be slower to diminish than it is in other states, and that's obviously a benefit for Cindy," Barbour said.
Barbour said Smith has already curried favor with both the state electorate and the president. Trump earlier this year endorsed Smith.
If Colom were to defeat Pinkins in a primary race, his complicated history with Smith could be rehashed on the campaign trail.
In 2022, former Democratic President Joe Biden appointed Colom to serve on an unfilled federal judge seat in Mississippi, but Smith blocked it.
Smith did that by not submitting a blue slip, which serves as a form of approval to a president's appointee. The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee typically does not hold confirmation hearings if home state senators do not both give the nod via a blue slip.
At the time, Smith said she did not approve of progressive groups, such as those led by George Soros, that donated to his campaign when he first ran for district attorney. She also said she was concerned about his opposition to 'legislation to protect female athletes,' according to the Associated Press.
In a letter written to Smith later that year, Colom refuted her claims and said he was unaware of where the 'progressive' money came from.
Grant McLaughlin covers the Legislature and state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@ or 972-571-2335.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Scott Colom pursued by state, national Democrats to run for US Senate
