Mississippi Voters Face Key Midterm Choices

Polls in Mississippi open at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, November 3, and close at 7 p.m.

Voters will decide the state’s U.S. Senate seat and four congressional districts, along with special state House elections and numerous judicial races. The Senate contest features incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith against Democrat Scott Colom and Independent Ty Pinkins. State law requires only a plurality to win the federal seat, meaning no runoff is necessary if no candidate reaches 50 percent. In 1978, Thad Cochran won the Senate seat with 45.3 percent of the vote, defeating Maurice Dantin and Charles Evers.

Congressional races also offer mixed fields. In the 1st District, Trent Kelly (R) faces Democrat Cliff Johnson and Libertarian Johnny Baucom. Johnson, an Ole Miss law professor, has raised more than Kelly in two of the last three quarters. In the 2nd District, Bennie Thompson (D) seeks an 18th term against Republican Ron Eller and Independent Bennie Foster. Thompson, who chaired the January 6 Select Committee, is 78 years old. Eller, a 65-year-old physician assistant, previously sought the seat in 2022 and 2024. Foster, 58, is a Jackson businessman running for office for the first time.

In the 3rd District, Michael Guest (R) runs for a fifth term against Democrat Michael Chiaradio and Libertarian Erik Kiehle. Guest chairs the House Ethics Committee and the Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee. In the 4th District, Mike Ezell (R) faces Democrat Jeffrey Hulum III and Independent Carl Boyanton. Ezell won his party’s primary in March with 84 percent of the vote. Hulum, a Gulfport state representative, took his party nomination with 58 percent of the vote. Boyanton has sought the seat every two years since 2020.

Special non-partisan elections will fill the state House seats vacated by the deaths of Representatives Price Wallace and William “Bo” Brown. Judicial contests include 57 Chancery races and 63 Circuit races, with 14 and 11 contested respectively. One of five Court of Appeals seats is contested, while the others feature unopposed candidates.

Voters must present photo ID at the polls. Those who use an affidavit ballot due to missing ID must submit proof to the Circuit Clerk’s Office by November 10. Campaigning is prohibited within 150 feet of any polling place entrance, though private property is exempt. Voters cannot photograph their marked ballots. The Secretary of State’s Elections Division can be reached at 1-800-829-6786 or via the YallVote.ms website for specific ballot information.