Obama Endorsement Boosts Democratic Challenger in Mississippi Senate Race

Former President Barack Obama released a 30-second television and radio advertisement supporting Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Scott Colom against incumbent Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. The ad, which began airing on **Oct.

Clarion Ledger

A Wedgewood Polls survey of 511 likely voters conducted from Oct. 12 to mid-October found Hyde-Smith leading 52 % to 48 % over Colom, a margin inside the poll’s 4.3-point error band. The poll’s crosstabs show strong partisan and demographic splits, with Colom winning 91 % of Black respondents and 56 % of voters aged 18-29, while Hyde-Smith captured 78 % of white voters and 88 % of those who said they voted for President Donald Trump in 2024.

NewsweekClarion LedgerSemafor

Mississippi has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1982. Hyde-Smith won a 2018 special election by 7 points and expanded that margin in 2020. The state’s electorate is heavily Republican, but its Black population (about 37 % of the weighted poll sample) provides a sizable Democratic base. National Democrats have targeted the race as a potential pickup, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer listing Mississippi among priority states.

Newsweek

• Poll margin: Hyde-Smith 52 % – Colom 48 % (±4.3 %).

Newsweek

• Demographic support: Colom 91 % of Black voters; 56 % of voters 18-29. Hyde-Smith 78 % of white voters; 88 % of Trump-voters.

Newsweek

• Media spend: The Obama-endorsed ad is part of a “seven-figure” statewide media buy; the campaign allocated $1,350 on Oct. 12 alone to air the spot on CBS affiliate WCBI.

Clarion Ledger

• Alternative polling: Data for Progress (August) placed Colom about 6 points behind Hyde-Smith; Decision Desk HQ gave Hyde-Smith a 93 % chance of re-election.

Newsweek

Colom’s campaign has emphasized his record as a “young father” and “seventh-generation Mississippian” guided by Christian faith.

Semafor

Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.)

Semafor

• Poll vs. projection: The Wedgewood poll shows a 4-point gap, while Data for Progress indicates a 6-point deficit for Colom.

Newsweek

• Odds: Decision Desk HQ assigns Hyde-Smith a 93 % chance of winning, contrasting with the narrow margin suggested by the Wedgewood poll.

Newsweek

• Third-party candidate: Independent Ty Pinkins also appears on the Nov. 3 ballot, but none of the polls isolate his impact, leaving a gap in the full contest picture.

Newsweek

• “So much in this great state and in our nation is going to depend upon the outcome of this race,” — Democratic Sens. Cory Booker

Clarion Ledger

Mississippi voters will cast ballots on Nov. 3. Both campaigns plan additional ad buys and candidate appearances in the weeks leading up to the election, while national Democrats continue to monitor the race for any late-stage shifts.

Semafor