District Attorney Scott Colom launches U.S. Senate bid against Cindy Hyde-Smith

COLUMBUS, Miss. (VDN) — District Attorney Scott Colom announced his campaign today for the U.S. Senate, challenging incumbent Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. Colom, a seventh-generation Mississippian, says he is running to prioritize families, healthcare, and economic opportunity in the state.

“For the last ten years I’ve worked as the District Attorney here in Northeast Mississippi where I’ve won 94% of my trials and solved a record number of cold cases,” Colom said in his announcement video. “But the best crime stopper is a job and an education. Cindy Hyde-Smith doesn’t get that because she’s too concerned about her job in D.C. And her latest vote is gonna run up our debt, kick over a hundred thousand Mississippians off their health care, and put our hospitals at risk – all so billionaires in California and New York can get a tax break.”

Colom boasts a 94 percent conviction rate as District Attorney. Since taking office in 2015 he has closed a significant number of cold cases and successfully prosecuted more than 15 high-profile murder cases. His office also secured a 105-year sentence for the perpetrator in a kidnapping and rape case at Mississippi State University and helped hold a corrupt sheriff accountable. Colom describes his approach as reform-minded—a combination of holding violent criminals accountable and expanding economic opportunity to prevent crime.

A lifelong resident of Columbus, Colom is the son of the first African American chancery court judge in his region, retired Judge Dorothy Colom. He lives in Columbus with his wife, Nadia, and their two daughters. Colom remains active in his community as a church member, coach, and mentor to local teens. He credits his strong re-election margins—even in a swing county—to his bipartisan appeal and leadership on public safety.

“Cindy Hyde-Smith has abandoned Mississippians and put out-of-state billionaires first,” Colom said. “Ranked one of the least effective U.S. Senators in the country two years into her first term, Hyde-Smith has hurt Mississippians with her vote to cut Medicaid and put Mississippi’s rural hospitals at risk of closure.”