Hyde-Smith, Colom win Mississippi primaries; incumbents advance in House races

Incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democratic challenger Scott Colom won their party primaries Tuesday and will meet in the Nov. 3 general election, Mississippi Today reported. An independent, Ty Pinkins, is also expected on the November ballot, the outlet said.

Hyde-Smith defeated GOP challenger Sarah Adlakha, while Colom, the district attorney for Noxubee, Clay, Lowndes and Oktibbeha counties, beat Marine Corps veteran Albert Littell and Priscilla Williams-Till, whom Mississippi Today identified as a distant cousin of Emmett Till.

Hyde-Smith emphasized her ties to former President Donald Trump and to Mississippi farmers during the primary, and told supporters at a Rankin County political breakfast that the general election will be difficult. “It’s going to be tough between now and November,” she said, according to Mississippi Today. Colom campaigned on raising the minimum wage, expanding health care access and exempting law enforcement officers and teachers from the income tax, the report said.

Both candidates have been active fundraisers. Campaign finance reports show Colom raised more than Hyde-Smith in the last quarter, but Hyde-Smith had substantially more cash on hand, Mississippi Today reported. The race is expected to draw significant outside spending as Republicans seek to hold a narrow Senate majority, the outlet said.

All four of Mississippi’s U.S. House incumbents on the ballot Tuesday advanced. GOP Reps. Trent Kelly and Michael Guest were unopposed for their nominations. Guest will face Democrat Michael Chiaradio, and Kelly will meet Democrat Cliff Johnson. In the 4th District, Republican Mike Ezell defeated Sawyer Walters and will face Democratic state Rep. Jeffrey Hulum III, Mississippi Today reported. In the 2nd District, Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson beat challengers Evan Turnage and Pertis Williams III. On the GOP side in that district, Adams County Supervisor Kevin Wilson and Ron Eller were contending for the nomination in a race that remained too close to call late Tuesday, Mississippi Today said.

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