The leading campaign arm for Senate Democrats is setting aside $1.2 million for a television ad blitz in Mississippi on Tuesday, riding the momentum of positive polling for their candidate.
The Senate Majority PAC plans to release a new ad supporting Scott Colom, the Democratic nominee for the Senate, as he prepares to challenge incumbent Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith. Reports indicate the ads will begin airing Wednesday and continue until Election Day.
“We’ve been keeping a close eye on this race, and it’s clear that Colom is making serious gains, putting Hyde-Smith in a tough spot,” commented Lauren French, a spokesperson for the PAC.
Senate Majority PAC (D) announces its first spending in Mississippi It’ll start a $1.2 million TV ad campaign there Wednesday through Election Day, per an SMP spox #MSSEN
— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) October 20, 2026
A recent Wedgwood Poll revealed Colom trailing Hyde-Smith by a narrow margin of 52% to 48%, while other sources suggest Hyde-Smith maintains a slight lead. It’s noteworthy that Mississippi hasn’t elected a Democratic U.S. senator since November 1982, and the state has been under Republican control in both Senate seats since 1989.
In the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump received 60.9% of the votes in Mississippi.
So far, a total of $8 million has been spent on the Senate race, with Colom slightly ahead in fundraising at about $4.6 million compared to Hyde-Smith’s $3.2 million.
Colom has campaigned alongside Democratic Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock and has a rally scheduled with former Vice President Kamala Harris later this week.
His campaign focuses on affordability, which appears to resonate with voters this election cycle, according to his website. Being the district attorney for Mississippi’s 16th Judicial District also adds to his recognition among the electorate.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court deemed Louisiana’s racially gerrymandered map unconstitutional, prompting discussions in Mississippi about redistricting to adjust black majority districts. Initially, there was a plan to redraw the state’s only majority-black district, but Republican Governor Tate Reeves canceled a special legislative session after facing public backlash.
Charles Taylor from the Mississippi NAACP noted that rising living costs are motivating Democratic voters, highlighting that the Supreme Court’s ruling has galvanized black voter turnout.
Thousands rallied in Jackson to protest against the redistricting efforts, working to encourage voter turnout for the upcoming November elections. About 35% of Mississippi’s voters are black, as reported.
The Senate Majority PAC has also invested $5 million in a television campaign in Kansas, a state that hasn’t had a Democratic senator since 1939, and has spent significantly in Texas, Iowa, Ohio, and Alaska.
Meanwhile, Democratic spending has been scaled back in Georgia and North Carolina, where incumbents Jon Ossoff and Roy Cooper are ahead.
On the Republican side, PACs invested over $326 million in support of Ken Paxton, although he trails behind Democratic nominee James Talarico. Additional support includes $14 million for Republican Senator Roger Marshall from Kansas and $5 million for Republican Senator Darline Graham from South Carolina.
