Ty Pinkins, a Democrat who has run two unsuccessful campaigns against incumbent Republicans in Mississippi, is hoping that a third stab at office will be the charm.
The Mississippi Delta attorney and Army veteran turned politico announced on Thursday that he plans to challenge incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith in the 2026 midterms. Pinkins’ latest move comes less than three months after he failed to unseat Hyde-Smith’s chamber colleague, U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, in the 2024 general election.
No stranger to Mississippi’s political scene, Pinkins was also rushed to the top of the Democratic ticket in 2023 when Shuwaski Young dropped out of the Secretary of State race against Michael Watson. Watson ultimately went on to win the election in a landslide.
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“I’m running for the U.S. Senate because I believe in Mississippians and the power of our people to shape
the future,” Pinkins said. “It’s time we come together and chart a new course — one that ensures opportunity, prosperity, and security for every Mississippian.”
According to a press release from Pinkins, the Senate hopeful will focus on the following if given the chance to represent Mississippi from Washington, D.C.:
- Expanding economic opportunity by attracting new industries, supporting small businesses and
driving investments throughout Mississippi to create well-paying jobs and strengthen families across the
state - Making healthcare affordable and accessible by prioritizing cost-effective measures that reduce
out-of-pocket expenses and improve access to quality healthcare, particularly in rural communities - Strengthening education by investing in public schools, community colleges, and vocational training
programs to ensure Mississippians are prepared for the jobs of today and tomorrow
Meanwhile, Hyde-Smith remains a vocal ally of President Donald Trump — someone Pinkins has routinely criticized for his alleged role in the January 6, 2021 incident at the U.S. Capitol. The GOP lawmaker has long endorsed Trump’s border policies while also championing efforts to build rural communities and support Mississippi’s agricultural industry.
Pinkins will first have to go through the primary process to secure his party’s nomination. If he is elevated to the next phase of the electoral process, he will have the chance to become Mississippi’s first Democratic U.S. Senator since John C. Stennis stepped down from his post in 1989.
