--- title: "Mississippi Senate Election Takes Unexpected Turn" url: https://newscentral.site/mississippi-senate-election-takes-unexpected-turn/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "Business" published: 2026-11-06T14:39:37.000Z updated: 2026-11-08T09:42:33.788Z id: 7fc33271-1895-45bb-928d-4be2899fa8ae source: "Fortune https://fortune.com/2026/11/06/beef-prices-ad-mississippi-senate-race-democrat-republican-colom-hyde-smith/" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/mississippi-senate-election-takes-unexpected-turn/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Mississippi Senate Election Takes Unexpected Turn Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith faces a tough challenge from district attorney Scott Colom after he announced his candidacy against her in 2025. A surprise twist in the Mississippi Senate election has Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith facing a tough challenge from district attorney Scott Colom. Just four years ago, Hyde-Smith blocked Colom's nomination to a federal judgeship, citing his opposition to legislation protecting female athletes and past support from a George Soros-funded PAC. The tables have now turned, with Colom announcing his candidacy against Hyde-Smith in 2025. The two candidates are currently locked in a tight race, with Colom leading by a narrow margin of 1,138 votes. This is significant, as Mississippi has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1982. A key issue that may be contributing to Colom's lead is his response to rising beef prices, an issue that affects many voters in rural states like Mississippi. When asked about it by a TV reporter, Hyde-Smith, a self-proclaimed cattle rancher, had a surprising answer: "You know, you have so many proteins to choose from." As the election heats up, voters are paying close attention to the candidates' stances on issues affecting their daily lives, including the cost of groceries and other essentials. With Colom's lead growing by the day, it remains to be seen whether Hyde-Smith can turn the tide of this closely watched election. The cost of ground beef has been on the rise, reaching $6.79 per pound in September, up from $5.55 when President Trump took office in January 2025. A recent campaign ad for Colom features her February interview where she made a comment about beef prices. The ad juxtaposes her statement with footage of people buying and grilling beef at the supermarket, highlighting the disconnect between her words and the reality of many voters' lives. The ad's tone is lighthearted but also critical of Colom's remark, with some individuals in the video expressing their disagreement with her suggestion to "pick another protein. One diner patron says she would rather choose a new senator instead, while another person grilling burgers makes a similar comment. Following the release of the ad, its popularity has grown significantly, and it is now being credited with Colom's newfound momentum in the election. As results continue to roll in, showing him with a narrow lead, many are taking notice of the campaign's creative approach to addressing his opponent's gaffe. On social media platform X, Colom shared behind-the-scenes information about the ad, crediting Open Society's Patrick Gaspard for suggesting he use her comment as material and praising content creator Ryan Sayles for directing and editing the spot. The Mississippi Senate seat has become a crucial battleground for Democrats, and one reason why their challenger is gaining ground is due to his focus on making the cost of living crisis central to his campaign. Colom's emphasis on wages, costs, hospitals, and jobs seems to have resonated with voters in seven counties that previously supported incumbent Senator Hyde-Smith. It appears that Colom's campaign has been able to tap into a sense of frustration among Mississippians who feel their stagnant earnings are being eroded by inflation. President Trump has repeatedly dismissed the concept of affordability as a con job" and a fake word made up by Democrats. However, his stance may not be entirely in line with public opinion. At a time when consumer prices are rising at their fastest pace in three years, it seems that many Americans are struggling to make ends meet. Some Republicans have warned against downplaying the affordability issue, with pollster Frank Luntz cautioning that Trump risked appearing out of touch if he continued to dismiss the concerns of voters. A growing concern among young people is the rising cost of living, which has become a pressing issue for many voters across the country. This sentiment was reflected in recent AP exit polls, where the cost of living and government corruption emerged as the top two issues on voters' minds. The affordability question has also been raised by some Republican politicians who have acknowledged that their party may not be doing enough to address this concern. In a candid moment, Vice President JD Vance conceded that Republicans hadn't done enough on affordability for young people during a town hall event. As the nation's attention shifts towards the Mississippi Senate seat, one Democrat is poised to make history if elected. If Colom wins, he would be the first Democrat sent to the Senate from Mississippi since John Stennis won his last term in 1982. Stennis' voting record on the Civil Rights Act of 1964 has been a topic of discussion, with some noting that his opposition to the law was a notable stance at the time. Forrest County, where the city of Hattiesburg is located, has shifted its allegiance to Colom's campaign, a significant development in the state's electoral landscape. The county bears the name of Nathan Bedford Forrest, a Confederate general who also served as the first grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. The Democratic party is sending additional support to assist with the remaining vote count in Mississippi, which does not have an automatic recount process or allow candidates to request one. This means any potential challenge would need to be taken to court. --- Source: [Fortune](https://fortune.com/2026/11/06/beef-prices-ad-mississippi-senate-race-democrat-republican-colom-hyde-smith/) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/mississippi-senate-election-takes-unexpected-turn/