From former President Barack Obama ad for Scott Colom
- The former Democrat President says it’s time for a change in Mississippi. By contrast, incumbent U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith has been endorsed by President Donald Trump.
It was once a rare scene for a Democrat candidate in Mississippi to go all in with national party leaders in a statewide election. Yet, that is exactly what Mike Espy did in his failed bid for U.S. Senate six years ago and what Scott Colom is doing now down the stretch as the General Election nears.
Colom’s campaign shared a video Sunday night featuring former President Barack Obama urging Mississippi voters to make a change in D.C. this November. Obama has made a play in Mississippi before against Republican U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, backing Espy who eventually lost by double digits.
The Obama ad video comes after Delaware U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, Maryland U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks, and New Jersey U.S. Senator Cory Booker have visited Mississippi in recent weeks campaigning on behalf of their fellow Democrat Colom. Georgia U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock is scheduled to be in the Magnolia State pushing Colom this week as well.
“Mississippi, it’s time for a change and that’s why you need to send Scott Colom to the U.S. Senate,” Obama says in the 30-second campaign ad.
“Scott is a devoted husband and dad, a seventh-generation Mississippian,” Obama continues. “Guided by his Christian faith, Scott made his community safer, prosecuting violent crimes as district attorney and fighting corruption in Columbus. Now he’s running for Senate to raise wages, lower costs, and save your healthcare and hospitals.”
Obama concludes by saying, “Mississippi, your vote matters. Let’s get this done.”
Notably, the former President will reportedly be campaigning alongside controversial Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed later this month as Obama “is getting significantly more involved in the midterm elections, with additional campaign stops and advertisements expected to come in the closing weeks, according to plans shared first with The Associated Press,” as reported by the New York Post. Whether those plans include a stop in Mississippi to support Colom is unknown as this time.
Colom is also being backed by Congressman Bennie Thompson (D), 33 Democrat state lawmakers, and the AFL-CIO, among others.
By contrast, Colom’s Republican opponent Senator Hyde-Smith has been endorsed by President Donald Trump and a myriad of local, state and federal elected officials across Mississippi.
Trump endorsed Hyde-Smith’s re-election in March 2025, saying the Senator would never let Mississippi down.
“Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith is 100% MAGA, and doing a fantastic job representing the Incredible People of Mississippi!” Trump wrote. “An Original Member of my Mississippi Leadership Team, Cindy has been with us from the very beginning. In the Senate, Cindy is fighting hard to Secure our Border, Grow the Economy, Champion our Amazing Farmers and American Agriculture, Support our Brave Military/Veterans, Promote Energy DOMINANCE, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment.”
President Trump went on to say, “Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election – SHE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
Then in January, Hyde-Smith picked up a slew of endorsements, which included her fellow Mississippi U.S. Senator Roger Wicker as well as the state’s three GOP Congressmen, Trent Kelly (MS-1), Michael Guest (MS-3) and Mike Ezell (MS-4).
In addition to the federal level endorsements, Hyde-Smith shared support she has received from seven of the eight statewide elected officials, from Governor Tate Reeves (R) to Attorney General Lynn Fitch (R), along with 34 state senators and 73 state representatives, including Speaker of the House Jason White (R).
Of Obama’s endorsement of Colom, Hyde-Smith campaign manager Jake Monssen said Monday, “Scott Colom will suffer the same fate as the last two candidates President Obama endorsed in Mississippi.”
Hyde-Smith won the 2018 special election to fill the unexpired U.S. Senate term of Thad Cochran, defeating former Agricultural Secretary Espy in a runoff election by nearly 8 points. Hyde-Smith then won a full six-year term in 2020, again defeating Espy by 10 points.
Hyde-Smith and Colom will face off on the November 3 General Election ballot. Independent candidate Ty Pinkins is also on the ballot for U.S. Senate. Absentee voting is underway in Mississippi.
