Scott Colom, the district attorney for the Columbus area in northeast and east-central Mississippi, is running for U.S. Senate in a race considered an uphill battle. He aims to unseat incumbent Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, a feat not accomplished in Mississippi since 1942, according to political history.
Mississippi has been a solid Republican state for decades, with no Democratic governor elected since 1999 and no Democratic U.S. senator since 1982, analysts said. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has not allocated funds to Colom’s race, citing the long odds of victory. Based on polling data, Democrats believe their best chance to gain control of the Senate lies elsewhere.
Despite these challenges, Colom and other Democrats point to recent statewide elections where Democrats have been competitive. In races between Hyde-Smith and former Congressman Mike Espy, as well as recent gubernatorial elections, Democrats have come close to victory, giving Colom some hope.
The last time a Mississippi incumbent senator was defeated in a popular vote was in 1942, when James O. Eastland defeated Wall Doxey. Eastland, who served until 1978, was initially appointed in 1941 but promised not to run in the special election he was eligible for. Since then, Mississippi has largely maintained its incumbents in the Senate, with few exceptions, until recent history.
Historically, Mississippi has seen several incumbent senators defeated in elections following the ratification of the 17th Amendment in 1913. These include James K. Vardaman, Harrison, Hubert Stephens, and Doxey. Colom hopes to add Hyde-Smith’s name to that list, though most political analysts consider his chances slim. Still, some believe victory could happen eventually.
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
