Why Democrats hope to flip a state Trump won by 23 points

Key Points:

• Democrat Scott Colom is mounting a challenging campaign to unseat Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi, a state that has not elected a Democrat to the Senate in nearly 40 years and has a significant Black electorate comprising 35% of the population.
• Colom has gained high-profile support from figures like former Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Barack Obama, as well as financial backing from a major Democratic super PAC aligned with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
• Despite recent Supreme Court rulings weakening protections against racial gerrymandering, Black Democratic candidates in the South, including Colom, are running competitive campaigns by mobilizing Black voters and addressing local concerns.
• Colom’s campaign strategy includes grassroots outreach such as town halls and a “Mississippi Matters” food truck, aiming to build belief in Democratic viability and appeal to a broad base with messages on tariffs, minimum wage, and healthcare.
• While Republicans remain confident in Hyde-Smith’s chances, citing her record and energized base, Colom’s persistent campaigning and growing Democratic enthusiasm in Mississippi suggest the race could be more competitive than expected.