Will Mississippi send a Black Democrat to the US Senate? Scott Colom says don't count him out
Scott Colom is making the case that he can challenge Hyde-Smith by focusing on affordability, health care and voter turnout.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYCredibility rates The Gazette, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.
The reporting is attributed to the Associated Press, an established wire service, and the page identifies the AP author and includes an AP copyright notice. The Gazette is the publishing outlet, but the article itself is AP work.
- Source type — The article is attributed to the Associated Press, a major wire service with established reporting standards.
- Author attribution — An AP byline identifies the reporting organization and author.
- Transparency — The page includes a copyright notice identifying the Associated Press as the source of the material.
The article includes accounts from both campaigns, voter and advocacy-group perspectives, demographic and election data, and fundraising figures. Hyde-Smith herself declined an interview, leaving her campaign's response to be represented by aides.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article gives substantial space to both candidates' positions and includes campaign and voter perspectives. Hyde-Smith declined an interview, so her side is represented by her campaign manager and aides rather than by her directly.
- Counterarguments presented — Hyde-Smith's campaign responds to Colom's criticism by describing her community appearances and attacking his positions.
- Source diversity — The story draws on both campaigns, voters, an NAACP leader and election and fundraising data.
- Omitted context — Hyde-Smith declined an interview, limiting direct representation of her views.
- Loaded language — Charged descriptions and accusations are generally presented as attributed quotes rather than the article's own judgments.
The article presents the race as uncertain and includes criticisms from Colom and responses from Hyde-Smith's campaign, alongside voter and demographic context. Its language is generally descriptive rather than partisan.
- Language tone — The writing is mostly neutral and attributes evaluative claims to the people making them.
- Source selection — It includes the candidates' competing campaign narratives, voters, an advocacy leader and campaign-finance figures.
- Framing — The race is framed as a potentially competitive contest, with demographic and electoral context for readers.
Republished with credit
Republished from Associated Press, with credit to the original publisher.
460 stories · 95–96 · updated Oct 8, 2026
This is Associated Press's own score, and this article is credited to Associated Press. The host score in the Source Check is The Gazette's.
Mississippi prosecutor and Senate candidate Scott Colom is campaigning to unseat Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, in a race the article describes as a potential wildcard as Republicans defend their Senate majority. Colom argues that Hyde-Smith has not represented Mississippians well; her campaign disputes his characterization and says she regularly attends community events.
Colom, a Democrat, is challenging Hyde-Smith in Mississippi. He has criticized her as a rubber stamp and faulted her over tariffs, health insurance and her refusal to hold a town hall. Hyde-Smith declined an interview, while her campaign manager called Colom too liberal and said Hyde-Smith attends community events around the state.
The article examines how turnout and Mississippi’s racial and political demographics could shape the contest. It notes that Hyde-Smith defeated Mike Espy in 2018 and won a rematch in 2020, while supporters of Colom say increased Black voter registration and turnout could make the race more competitive. The candidates’ fundraising totals and remaining campaign funds are also compared.
Community verdict
VOTING CLOSEDNo good or bad look here
This story reports what happened without casting Colom in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Colom’s record.
People in this story
SWIPE →Republican senator seeking reelection
Hyde-Smith's version of this story ↗President whose policies and political standing are discussed in the campaign context
Former president whose Mississippi election margin is used as a comparison
Senator who campaigned in Mississippi in support of Colom
Senate minority leader who held a fundraiser for Colom
Former opponent of Hyde-Smith in the 2018 Senate runoff
Former Mississippi senator cited as a contrast to Hyde-Smith
Part of a bigger story
9 OUTLETSScott Colom, a Democrat, is campaigning to unseat Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi. Colom argues he can make the race competitive, and the coverage discusses the electorate and voter turnout. Center outlets treat the story as a potentially competitive Senate challenge, examining turnout, campaign arguments and other factors that could shape the race. Their reports include both campaigns’ competing characterizations.
- ARTICLES
- 10
- OUTLETS
- 9
- AVG CRED
- 84
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