November’s midterm elections are quickly approaching with two months to go before voters head to the polls statewide.
Five congressional races will headline Election Day, including one of Mississippi’s two U.S. Senate seats and all four U.S. House seats. Voters will also decide a number of judicial races, along with several special elections.
Here’s what to know as you prepare to vote.
Dates to know
Tuesday, Nov. 3, is Election Day. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The deadline to register to vote or update voter registration information is Oct. 5.
For voters who qualify to vote absentee, in-person absentee voting begins Sept. 19 and continues through Oct. 31. Mail-in absentee ballots will also be available beginning Sept. 19.
Hyde-Smith, Colom headline Senate race
U.S. Senate seats are purposely staggered, meaning just one of Mississippi’s two seats will be on the ballot this year. After Republican Sen. Roger Wicker won a third term in 2024, it is fellow Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith’s turn to see if she can keep her seat for a second, six-year term.
Challenging Hyde-Smith is Democrat Scott Colom, a Lowndes County-based district attorney for Mississippi’s 16th Judicial District. Colom, who has worked to keep pace on the fundraising front, promises to “work with any party” if elected to the Senate.
Hyde-Smith has continuously touted her conservative platform that focuses on agriculture and rural communities, border security, abortion restrictions, gun rights, tax cuts, and support for and from President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Colom is looking to lower costs, expand access to health care, and also support farmers.
Ty Pinkins, a former Democrat, is running as an independent. His campaign has focused on independent politics – strongly disavowing both sides at events and in interviews – reducing the influence of money in government, housing, education, health care, and economic development.
Every U.S. House race is contested
All four of Mississippi’s U.S. House seats will have at least three candidates on the November ballot:
- 1st Congressional District: Republican incumbent Rep. Trent Kelly is being challenged by civil rights attorney and University of Mississippi School of Law MacArthur Justice Center director Cliff Johnson, who is running as a Democrat. Libertarian Johnny Baucom is also running.
- 2nd Congressional District: Democratic incumbent Rep. Bennie Thompson is seeking an 18th term after first being elected in 1993. He will face Republican Ron Eller, a physician assistant in Jackson, and independent Bennie Foster. Foster works as the chief operating officer at a Jackson church.
- 3rd Congressional District: Republican incumbent Rep. Michael Guest is being challenged by political newcomer and regenerative farmer Michael Chiaradio, who is running as a Democrat. Erik Kiehle, a property manager and volunteer firefighter from Meridian, is running as a Libertarian.
- 4th Congressional District: Republican incumbent Rep. Mike Ezell, the newest of Mississippi’s delegation, is seeking a second term. He will face Democratic state lawmaker Jeffrey Hulum III and independent Carl Boyanton, a local produce farmer.
Mississippi’s 1st Congressional District is made up of 21 counties in the northeast corner of the state. It includes Southaven, Tupelo, Oxford, Columbus, and Olive Branch.
Mississippi’s 2nd Congressional District is made up of 28 counties concentrated along the Mississippi River and in the Delta region and holds portions of Madison and Hinds counties, including most of the city of Jackson.
Mississippi’s 3rd Congressional District covers central and southern portions of the state while stretching from the Louisiana border to the Alabama border. It includes a sliver of Jackson and all of Brookhaven, Madison, Meridian, and Starkville.
Mississippi’s 4th Congressional District covers the southeastern portion of the state, including part of the Pine Belt and all of the Coast. It contains three of the state’s four most populous cities: Gulfport, Biloxi, and Hattiesburg.
Judgeship and special elections
Voters across Mississippi will also see judicial races on their ballots, including contested races for the Mississippi Court of Appeals, Chancery Court, Circuit Court, and County Court.
The Secretary of State’s candidate list provides a breakdown of candidates by race and district.
There will be special elections for two Mississippi House seats – Districts 70 and 77 – after the passing of Rep. Bo Brown, a Democrat from Jackson, and Rep. Price Wallace, a Republican from Mendenhall.
A special election is also being held for district attorney in the 7th Judicial District, where former District Attorney Jody Owens resigned after pleading guilty as part of a broad corruption scandal in Hinds County.
Three candidates are running in the House District 70 special election, while four candidates are running in District 77. Five candidates are running in the District 7 district attorney special election.
What to bring to the polls
Mississippi voters must present an acceptable form of photo identification when voting in person.
Acceptable forms include a Mississippi driver’s license, U.S. passport, voter identification card, student identification card, and certain government-issued identification cards, among others.
Voters who do not have an acceptable form of photo ID may cast an affidavit ballot and have an opportunity to provide acceptable identification after Election Day.