Mississippi Senate Race: Who Speaks for Agriculture?
AgWeb Editors • October 22, 2026 06:12 AM
In a key political race for U.S. agriculture, three candidates are elbowing in Mississippi. Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith, Democrat Scott Colom, and Independent Ty Pinkins seek the junior senatorial slot, along with a seat on the Agriculture, Forestry, and Nutrition Committee.
Mississippi is a vital agriculture state, with major catfish, poultry, and row crop production centered on cotton, soybeans, rice, corn, and sweet potatoes.
Only 6% of Congress’ 535 members actively farm, despite agriculture supporting $10.4 trillion in total U.S. economic output—roughly 20% of all economic activity. Alarmingly, a mere 30 senators or representatives are directly involved in farming, and that number is steadily shrinking.
Which of Mississippi’s three candidates best understands and speaks for agriculture?
Incumbent since 2018, Hyde-Smith served as Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce from 2012–2018, and presently serves on the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee. She raises beef cattle and partners with her family in a stockyard auction market.
Colom is a seventh-generation Mississippian and has served as a prosecutor, judge, and district attorney.
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