Mississippi voters selected their nominees for U.S. Senate and House races Tuesday, with incumbents Cindy Hyde-Smith, Bennie Thompson, and Mike Ezell winning their respective primaries by wide margins, according to preliminary results reported at 9:30 p.m.
Hyde-Smith, a Republican seeking her second full term, defeated Sarah Adlakha with 80.7% of the vote. She now advances to the November general election, carrying a campaign war chest of $2.25 million and an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. Hyde-Smith criticized her opponent, Scott Colom, a Democrat, for his support from George Soros and opposition to her judicial appointment, citing her desire to protect women’s sports and oppose left-leaning policies.
In the Democratic primary for the Senate seat, Scott Colom defeated Priscilla Till and Albert Littell. Colom, a district attorney, was supported by U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and was recruited to run after Hyde-Smith did not return a blue slip for his federal judicial nomination. Colom reported $560,000 in campaign funds before the primary.
In the 1st Congressional District, incumbent Republican Trent Kelly ran unopposed and will face Democrat Cliff Johnson in November. Johnson won the Democratic nomination after defeating Kelvin Buck. Kelly has nearly $738,000 cash on hand, while Johnson reported $65,000 before the primary.
In the 2nd Congressional District, Thompson easily defeated challengers Evan Turnage and Pertis Williams in the Democratic primary, securing his spot on the November ballot. The Republican race remains unofficial, with Kevin Wilson trailing Ron Eller, a former GOP nominee who lost to Thompson in 2022. Bennie Foster, a Democrat-turned-Independent, also qualified for the general election.
For the 3rd District, incumbent Michael Guest ran unopposed in the Republican primary and will face Democrat Michael Chiaradio and Libertarian Erik Kiehle in November. Guest reported over $816,000 in campaign funds, while Chiaradio, a former baseball player turned farmer, had about $10,000 at the start of the race.
In the 4th District, Ezell secured the Republican nomination with 84.1% of the vote, facing Democrat Jeffery Hulum, who won his party’s primary with 57.9%. Ezell has $108,000 in campaign funds; Hulum’s financial details are not publicly available. The Republican-turned-Independent Carl Boyanton, who supported Ezell in 2022, is also on the November ballot, but his campaign finance status remains unreported.
Results are preliminary and subject to certification. These incumbents and their challengers will face off again in the November general election, with the political landscape shaping up for Mississippi’s midterm contests, according to election officials and party sources.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
