Control of Congress Runs Through Mississippi as Voters Head to the Polls
Control of the U.S. House and Senate hangs in the balance Tuesday as voters across the country step into the voting booth. In Mississippi, five high-stakes contests will help decide which party holds congressional majorities for the second half of President Donald Trump’s second term. Voters statewide will decide the outcome of one U.S. Senate seat alongside all four of the state’s congressional districts, with incumbents facing fierce challenges from a mix of Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, and independent candidates.
The Senate Showdown: Hyde-Smith Confronts Colom
U.S. Senate seats are intentionally staggered, meaning just one of Mississippi’s two seats is on the ballot this Tuesday. Following Republican Sen. Roger Wicker winning a third term in 2024, it is fellow Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith’s turn to defend her seat for a second, six-year term, according to SuperTalk FM reporting. Scott Colom, a Democrat and Columbus-based district attorney for Mississippi’s 16th Judicial District, is running against Hyde-Smith.
Colom has kept a competitive fundraising pace while promising to work across party lines if elected to the Senate.
Both Hyde-Smith and Colom have said they want to lower prices for Mississippians amid persistent inflation and rising costs for everyday necessities.
National party heavyweights have poured into the state to mobilize voters during the final weeks of the cycle. Hyde-Smith welcomed President Trump to a high-profile rally in Corinth, while Colom countered by hosting former Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Bill Clinton at separate campaign stops. The back-and-forth between the two major-party campaigns has grown increasingly contentious, marked by social media sparring and sharply worded attack ads.
Complicating the arithmetic for the seat is Ty Pinkins, a Vicksburg-based attorney and Army veteran running a long-shot independent campaign. Pinkins left the Democratic Party citing institutional corruption on both sides of the aisle. Despite pressure from voters urging him to drop out to prevent splitting the anti-incumbent vote, Pinkins announced on Oct. 27 that he would remain on the ballot through Election Day.
All Four U.S. House Seats Contested
Every single U.S. House seat in Mississippi features at least three candidates on Tuesday’s ballot, setting up competitive battles across every region of the state.
- 1st Congressional District: Cliff Johnson, a civil rights attorney and director of the MacArthur Justice Center at the University of Mississippi School of Law running as a Democrat, is mounting a challenge against Republican incumbent Rep. Trent Kelly. Libertarian Johnny Baucom is also on the ballot across the 21 northeastern counties, which include Southaven, Tupelo, Oxford, Columbus, and Olive Branch.
- 2nd Congressional District: Democratic incumbent Rep. Bennie Thompson seeks an 18th term, having first taken office in 1993. He faces Republican Ron Eller, a Jackson-based physician assistant, and independent Bennie Foster, chief operating officer at a Jackson church, across 28 counties stretching along the Mississippi River and the Delta region.
- 3rd Congressional District: Republican incumbent Rep. Michael Guest is challenged by regenerative farmer and political newcomer Michael Chiaradio, running as a Democrat, alongside Libertarian Erik Kiehle, a property manager and volunteer firefighter from Meridian.
- 4th Congressional District: Republican incumbent Rep. Mike Ezell, the newest member of the state’s congressional delegation, seeks a second term. He faces Democratic state lawmaker Jeffrey Hulum III and independent produce farmer Carl Boyanton in the southeastern region encompassing the Pine Belt and the Coast.
What Voters Need to Know Before Heading to the Polls
Polls across Mississippi will remain open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Any registered voter standing in line by 7 p.m. is legally entitled to cast a ballot. State law requires voters to present an acceptable form of photo identification, such as a driver’s license or a passport. Voters can review sample ballots, confirm their designated polling locations, and verify identification requirements through the official Mississippi Secretary of State voter ID resource page.
Live election results will be broadcast across participating SuperTalk Mississippi stations statewide after polls close. Digital trackers, written recaps, and live updates will also be maintained online through the SuperTalk Mississippi News platform.
