Harris Campaigns in Mississippi as GOP Races to Defend Senate Seat

WHO:

CNN - Incumbent Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith is defending her Mississippi Senate seat against Democratic district attorney Scott Colom, 43.

CNN - Colom has received support from former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Kamala Harris, Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock and all four Black Democratic senators, including Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey. Harris campaigned with Colom in Mississippi.

CNN - Senate Leadership Fund is the leading Republican super PAC focused on Senate races. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina is the Senate Republicans’ campaign chief; Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas is defending his seat against Democrat Adam Hamilton.

CNN - Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has promoted Colom’s campaign. Delaware Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester said Republicans were nervous because Colom had run a strong campaign focused on voters’ concerns about gas and grocery costs.

CNN - Hyde-Smith campaign manager Jake Monssen said the campaign was confident she would win, citing her record on infrastructure, rural health care, judges, taxes, border security and sports and locker-room policies.

WHAT:

CNN - Senate Leadership Fund reserved about $160,000 for Mississippi advertising; Democrats announced an initial $1.2 million reservation and America Bridge PAC announced plans to spend $2.1 million in the state.

CNN - Mississippi Senate advertising totaled less than $5 million from the start of 2026 through September. From October through Election Day, nearly $8 million was expected, with Democrats then spending about $5 million and Republicans $2.7 million.

CNN - Hyde-Smith was appointed in 2018 and won her first full term in 2020 by 10 points; Trump won Mississippi by more than 16 points in 2020 and by 23 points in the election referenced by the article.

CNN - Colom said Mississippi was “next” and argued its electorate—38% Black—resembled Georgia’s more than that of any other Deep South state. He said he was one of only four Democrats in 15 years to raise enough for statewide television advertising.

WHERE:

CNN - The Senate contest is in Mississippi, a Republican stronghold in the Deep South. Colom’s campaign has focused on Black communities and used a food truck at college campuses, housing projects, music festivals and other gathering places.

WHY:

CNN - Republicans are investing amid concern about the national political climate, Hyde-Smith’s fundraising and campaign performance, and Colom’s ability to make the race competitive. Democrats see Mississippi as their strongest Deep South pickup opportunity and emphasize turning out Black voters.

HOW:

CNN - Colom’s team has driven a food truck to meet voters, play music and give away tacos. Colom served “pick your protein” tacos in response to Hyde-Smith’s comment that there were “so many proteins to choose from” amid rising beef prices. He said, “You can’t pay for gas with lies. You can’t buy groceries with lies.”

CNN - Hyde-Smith’s campaign manager said she had not asked the party for additional resources. Newsweek reported that Harris campaigned for Colom as Republicans turned attention to the race.

(UPDATED October 22, 2026 22:16 UTC)

Mississippi’s Senate race is drawing national attention, as Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith faces Democrat Scott Colom, a 43-year-old district attorney. Democrats see the contest as their best chance to gain a Senate seat in the Deep South, while Republicans are spending amid concerns about the political climate and the campaign’s competitiveness. Colom has backing from Barack Obama, Kamala Harris, Raphael Warnock and other prominent Democrats; Harris also campaigned with him. His campaign is reaching voters with a food truck that serves tacos at campuses, housing projects and community events. Colom used the effort to highlight rising food and gas costs, saying, “You can’t pay for gas with lies.” Advertising is expected to surge toward Election Day: Democrats planned about $5 million in spending, compared with $2.7 million for Republicans. Hyde-Smith’s campaign says she is confident, pointing to her record on issues including rural health care, taxes and border security.