Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Mississippi, the incumbent. Every point on this page links to its source. We don't grade candidates or tell you how to vote. As of 2026-10-26.
In Congress: 111 bills and resolutions sponsored, 1577 cosponsored, 0 became law on their own (a bill folded into a larger law isn't counted). Congress.gov
Where they stand
In their own words, from their campaign and official websites, summarised in plain English.
Economy and cost of living
Hyde-Smith says government does not create jobs and that private businesses drive the economy. She says she will work with President Trump to roll back federal rules and regulations she sees as hindering job growth.
“government does not create jobs—people and businesses in the private sector are the drivers of our economy.”
Hyde-Smith says she has always supported lower taxes and backs the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. She says she will work to pass a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
“Cindy will always fight to make sure families and businesses keep more of their hard-earned money.”
Hyde-Smith says she supports patient-centered health care changes to help Mississippi families afford insurance without expanding the government's role in providing health care.
Hyde-Smith says illegal immigration must end. She supports building a wall on the southwestern border and more funding to enforce immigration laws, and says immigrants should enter by following the law.
“Immigrants who wish to live and work here must enter our great country the same way others have in previous generations— by following the law.”
Hyde-Smith says she believes in the sanctity of life, including for the unborn, and opposes taxpayer funding of abortions. She says she supports legislation to protect unborn children and will vote to confirm judges who interpret the law as written.
Hyde-Smith holds an enhanced-carry permit and says she will always stand up for Second Amendment rights, including the right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms.
“She will always stand up for our 2 nd Amendment Constitutional rights.”
Hyde-Smith says the federal government should support state efforts to improve education but should not dictate how states do it. She says she will back policies that let states, communities, teachers and parents make those decisions.
“Mississippi does not need Washington telling it how to raise and educate its children”
Hyde-Smith says she will support policies to strengthen the military and ensure veterans receive promised benefits. She says she stands with Israel, backs moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, and favors good relations with allies.
No ratings: interest groups score members of Congress on their votes, and Cindy Hyde-Smith has no congressional voting record.
Money
From FEC filings for 2025–26. Outside spending is money a group spends on its own about a candidate — TV and online ads, mail, canvassing. It is not a donation to the campaign, and the candidate does not control it. Supporting means it was spent to help that candidate win; Opposing means it was spent to defeat them, usually on attack ads. Groups report it within 24 or 48 hours as the election nears. Raised is the campaign's own fundraising, as of its latest quarterly report. Largest donors come from each outside spender's own FEC receipts, with each donor's share of its itemized receipts; donors under $100,000 are not named. People are shown with the employer and occupation they reported. A donor that is itself a political committee is shown with its own largest donors. Companies and nonprofits don't report their funders to the FEC, so the trail ends there, and the page says so.
Cindy Hyde-Smith (REP, incumbent)
Raised
$4.6M through 2026-10-14individuals $2.4M · PACs $1.3M · party $62K · from the candidate's other committees $890K · cash on hand $1.4M
AB PAC— $2.3M opposing Hyde-SmithLargest donors:
AB FOUNDATION $13.0M (30%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); DEMOCRACY MATTERS $5.6M (13%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); Deborah Simon $5.0M (11%), Retired; DEMOCRACY PAC $4.0M (9%); Lynn S Stern $1.0M (2%), Self Employed, PhotographerWINSENATE— $1.2M opposing Hyde-SmithLargest donors:
SMP $4.1M (100%) (its largest donors: MAJORITY FORWARD $61.0M, an organization; Fred Eychaner $9.0M; DEMOCRACY PAC $9.0M)NEW SOUTHERN MAJORITY IE PAC— $868K opposing Hyde-SmithLargest donors:
SPLC ACTION FUND $900K (94%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC)AMERICAN MISSION— $495K supporting Hyde-SmithLargest donors:
LEADING THE FUTURE $22.5M (99%); LONSDALE ENTERPRISES INC. $250K (1%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC)NEW DEAL FOR ALL, INC.— $482K opposing Hyde-Smithand 5 more
What named supporters and critics say, as reported. Each side shows everything we found and checked, so one side may be longer than the other.
Praise
President Donald Trump: Trump endorsed Hyde-Smith, calling her "100% MAGA." mississippitoday.org
Accurate?
Criticism
Senate Majority PAC: Its ad labels Hyde-Smith a "do-nothing" senator who hasn't passed legislation and voted to kick people off Medicaid. apnews.com
Accurate?
Controversies
Stated as reported. Most are reported by at least two independent news outlets or found in an official record; any with only one source so far is marked Single source.
Investigations
Request for state investigation of AI-generated video posted by opponent
The Mississippi Republican Party asked the Attorney General to investigate an AI-generated video of Hyde-Smith posted by opponent Scott Colom, citing a 2024 state law on altered videos. Attorney General Lynn Fitch then asked Colom to take the video down, and her office warned of a possible injunction and criminal penalties if it was not removed. The law provides exceptions for satire or parody.
FEC complaint (MUR 7975) against campaign committee
The Federal Election Commission matter under review 7975 includes a notification of a complaint sent in April 2022 to Hyde-Smith's campaign committee and its treasurer. The provided excerpts do not state what the complaint alleged or how it was resolved.
In November 2018, Hyde-Smith was captured on video telling a supporter, "If he invited me to a public hanging, I'd be on the front row." NPR reported that the remark drew criticism in Mississippi, with the political action committees of corporations including Walmart, AT&T, Pfizer and Major League Baseball pulling support and asking for donations back.
Response: "For anyone that was offended by my comments, I certainly apologize. There was no ill will, no intent whatsoever in my statements,"
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