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Scott Colom

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Scott Colom
Colom in 2026
United States Senator-elect
from Mississippi
Assuming office
January 3, 2027
SucceedingCindy Hyde-Smith
District Attorney for the 16th Judicial District of Mississippi
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 4, 2016
Preceded byForrest Allgood
Personal details
BornScott Winston Colom
(1982-12-24) December 24, 1982 (age 43)
Columbus, Mississippi, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
SpouseNadia Colom
Children2
Education
Website

Scott Winston Colom[1] (/kəˈloʊm/ kə-LOHM;[2] born December 24, 1982) is an American politician, lawyer, jurist, and United States senator-elect from Mississippi. A member of the Democratic Party, Colom has served since 2016 as district attorney for the 16th Judicial District of Mississippi.

The Democratic nominee in the 2026 United States Senate election in Mississippi, Colom narrowly defeated Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith in what media and political observers widely called a major upset. Colom is the first Democrat elected senator from Mississippi since 1982, the first Black person elected senator from Mississippi since Blanche Bruce in 1874, and the first Black person elected statewide in Mississippi since the Reconstruction era.

Early life and education

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Colom's father Wilbur Colom, Republican nominee for Mississippi State Treasurer in 1987

Colom was born in Columbus, Mississippi, on December 24, 1982.[3] His father, Wilbur Colom, also a lawyer, was the Republican nominee for state treasurer in 1987.[4] His mother, Dorothy (née Winston) Colom, was the first Black person elected to a Mississippi Chancery Courts judgeship in their district.[5] Colom earned a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in English and history from Millsaps College in 2005 and a Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2009.[6][7]

Early career

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After college, Colom worked as a teacher in Guyana for one year before enrolling in law school.[8] After graduating from law school he worked as a staff lawyer at the Mississippi Center for Justice, a public interest law firm, from 2009 to 2011.[7] He then managed the Colom Law Firm from 2011 to 2016 while serving part-time in various public offices until his election as district attorney; Colom was appointed the youngest and first Black justice court judge in Lowndes County history in 2011 at age 28, and from 2012 to 2013 he served as a municipal court judge in Aberdeen, Mississippi, and as interim justice court judge in Lowndes County.[9] From 2013 to 2016, he served as part-time city prosecutor of Columbus, becoming the city's first Black city prosecutor.[10]

Colom was elected district attorney for the 16th Judicial District of Mississippi (Clay, Lowndes, Noxubee, and Oktibbeha Counties) in 2015,[11][12] defeating the nearly 30-year incumbent, Forrest Allgood.[13] He was sworn in on January 4, 2016.[14] He was the first Black person elected district attorney for the 16th Circuit and the first Black person elected district attorney to a majority-white voting district in the history of Mississippi.[15][16] He ran unopposed in 2019 and was reelected.[12] He ran for reelection in 2023, was unopposed in the Democratic primary,[17] and was reelected with over 56% of the vote.[18]

Notable cases

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In 2012, Colom represented Taylor Bell, a student at Itawamba Agricultural High School who was disciplined by the school for publishing a rap song on Facebook that contained vulgar lyrics and criticized two coaches at the school.[19] The district court dismissed Bell's challenge. A panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reversed the dismissal, finding that disciplining a student for purely off-campus activities violates the First Amendment, but the Court of Appeals reheard the school board's appeal en banc and upheld Bell's dismissal.[20]

Through Colom's efforts, Eddie Lee Howard, who spent 23 years on death row for a murder conviction based on discredited bite mark evidence, was exonerated in 2021.[21][22]

2022 U.S. District Court nomination

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On October 14, 2022, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Colom to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi.[7] On November 15, his nomination was sent to the Senate. Biden was nominating Colom to the seat vacated by Judge Michael P. Mills, who assumed senior status on November 1.[23] On January 3, 2023, Colom's nomination was returned to the president under Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6, of the United States Senate. Colom was renominated on January 23, 2023.[24] Congressman Bennie Thompson initially recommended Colom for the role in a November 2021 letter to the White House.[11][25]

Colom received support from Senator Roger Wicker, who returned his blue slip (a Senate tradition that gives the two senators from the candidate's state the ability to block or approve the candidate), but on April 4, 2023, it was announced that Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith would not return her blue slip, effectively blocking his nomination.[26][27][28] Hyde-Smith cited as reasons for her opposition that Colom allegedly supported letting transgender students participate in girls' and women's sports and that he had received money from a PAC funded by George Soros.[29][30]

On April 10, Colom wrote Hyde-Smith a letter asking her to reconsider her opposition to his nomination.[31][32] In the letter, he said that he had not requested money from the PAC, did not know the money would be contributed, and did not receive money from the PAC when he was reelected in 2019.[33] The letter also said he never discussed his policies or any decisions he made as district attorney with anyone from the PAC or with Soros.[33] It disputed that Colom had ever taken a position on letting transgender students participate in girls' and women's sports; instead, he said, he had signed onto a letter with other district attorneys condemning the criminalization of gender-affirming surgery.[33][34] Colom's nomination received bipartisan support from Thompson, Wicker, and former governors Phil Bryant and Haley Barbour.[35] Nevertheless, on January 3, 2024, his nomination was returned to the president,[36] ending the process.[37] Colom went on to unseat Hyde-Smith in the 2026 U.S. Senate election in Mississippi.

U.S. Senate

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2026 election

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Two Black women smiling and posing together at an outdoor gathering, wearing matching "Pick Another Senator Instead" Mississippi 2026 campaign T-shirts, with a crowd of people in the background. Photo is black and white.
Supporters of Colom wearing "Pick Another Senator Instead" shirts

In September 2025, Colom announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in the 2026 Mississippi general election.[38] He defeated Priscilla Williams-Till and Albert Littell in the March 10, 2026 Democratic primary. In the November general election, Colom faced the incumbent, Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith, who had blocked his federal judgeship nomination, and an independent challenge from Ty Pinkins, the previous Democratic nominee for Senate.[5][39][40] Despite getting little to no media coverage when compared to other races of the cycle, Colom was able to secure high-profile endorsements from figures such as Barack Obama, Chuck Schumer, Elizabeth Warren, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Pete Buttigieg, and Bill Clinton, with the latter two personally stumping for him on the campaign trail.[41][42][43][44][45]

A noted highlight of the race was Colom's viral ad criticizing Hyde-Smith's February 2026 reply, when asked about the rising cost of beef, that Mississippians "have so many proteins to choose from". The ad featured Mississippians saying that instead of "picking another protein" they would rather "pick another senator".[46][47] "Pick another protein" has been compared to "Let them eat cake".[48]

Despite polling aggregators predicting sub-10 percent chances of Colom winning the seat,[49][50][51] he won by about half a percentage point, with news outlets calling the race for him eight days after Election Day, whereupon Hyde-Smith conceded.[52][46][53][47] His win was widely described as a major upset.[54][46][47]

Colom will be the first Black person to represent Mississippi in the U.S. Senate since Blanche Bruce, who was elected in 1874 and left office in 1881,[47][55][56] and the first Democrat to represent the state in the Senate since John C. Stennis, who was reelected in 1982 and left office in 1989.[55][57] He is the first Black person to win statewide office in Mississippi since the Reconstruction era.[58]

Political positions

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Colom's campaign centered on helping working-class Americans and putting money back in their pockets. He opposes tariffs as a "Mississippi last" policy by acting as an additional sales tax on buyers and applauded Senator Rand Paul for opposing them.[59] Colom opposes cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act due to the funding they provide for rural care and hospital systems.[60] Colom supports eliminating income taxes for anyone making under $75,000, starting with teachers and police officers. He supports eliminating corporate subsidies and other tax loopholes.[59] Colom supports law enforcement and has said he will "work to secure the border and enforce our immigration laws".[60] Of transgender rights, Colom has said: "I believe in fairness in girls' sports, and I don't believe in gender-affirming surgery for children."[61]

Personal life

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Colom has two daughters with his wife, Nadia Colom.[62] He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha.[63] His identical twin brother, Andrew Colom, is a real estate developer in Detroit who also worked on Scott's U.S. Senate campaign.[64] He has called Leo Tolstoy his favorite author, specifically citing Anna Karenina as a source of wisdom, and is also a fan of Robert Caro and Toni Morrison.[65][66]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Scott Winston Colom, Lawyer at The Colom Law Firm". LawyerDB.org. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  2. ↑ Scott Colom [@ColomForSenate]; (April 4, 2026). "A quick reference on how to prononce my name... ...with a cameo from my dad and his new 'do 🤣". Retrieved November 4, 2026 – via Facebook.
  3. ↑ "Scott Colom". District Attorney Office of the 16th District Court of Mississippi. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Black Republican Running for Office to Bring His People Into Politics". Sun Herald. Retrieved November 8, 2026.
  5. 1 2 Schneider, Gregory S. (October 25, 2026). "A Black Democrat has a chance to win in Mississippi's Senate race". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved November 2, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Scott Colom Champions Justice, Inspired by His Millsaps Roots". Millsaps College. February 5, 2025. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 "President Biden Makes Twenty-Seventh Judicial Nominations Announcement and Announces New Nominees to Serve as U.S. Attorneys and U.S. Marshals". The White House. October 14, 2022. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  8. ↑ Schaefer, Ward (September 28, 2009). "Scott Colom". Mississippi Free Press. Retrieved November 6, 2026.
  9. ↑ Smith, Slim (November 16, 2021). "Scott Colom recommended for federal judge seat". The Dispatch. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Scott Colom '09 Nominated to Serve as Judge for U.S. District Court". University of Wisconsin Law School. October 19, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  11. 1 2 Vance, Taylor (October 14, 2022). "Biden intends to nominate Scott Colom for federal judge in north Mississippi". Daily Journal. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  12. 1 2 Corder, Frank (October 14, 2022). "President Biden nominates DA Colom for U.S. District Court for Mississippi's Northern District". Y'all Politics. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  13. ↑ Robles, Frances (March 30, 2017). "5 Prosecutors With a Fresh Approach". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  14. ↑ Barnes, Joey (January 4, 2016). "Video: Colom Sworn In As District Attorney". WCBI. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Scott Colom | MSDA16". dacircuit. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  16. ↑ Tabor, Nick (March 27, 2018). "What If Prosecutors Wanted to Keep People Out of Prison?". Intelligencer. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Colom to win by default Dem. primary race for 16th Judicial District DA seat". June 28, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Despite bipartisan support, Scott Colom's federal judicial nomination still stalled in Senate". December 5, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Miss. Student Challenges Suspension Over Rap Song". www.jacksonfreepress.com. Associated Press.
  20. ↑ Hudson, David L. Jr. "Bell v. Itawamba County School Board (5th Cir.)". www.mtsu.edu.
  21. ↑ "Murder Charge Dismissed After Debunked Bite-Mark Testimony". Jackson Free Press. January 12, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Murder charge dismissed after debunked bite-mark testimony". Toronto Star. January 11, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Nominations Sent to the Senate" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. November 15, 2022. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  24. ↑ "Nominations Sent to the Senate" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. January 23, 2023.
  25. ↑ "District Attorney Scott Colom could be headed to the federal bench". November 18, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  26. ↑ "Biden Trial Court Nominee Blocked by Mississippi GOP Senator". April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Mississippi senator plans to block Biden judicial nominee". April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  28. ↑ "GOP senator moves to block Biden judicial pick". Reuters. April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  29. ↑ "US judicial nominee seeks to reverse senator's opposition". AP News. The Associated Press. April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  30. ↑ Pittman, Ashton (April 6, 2023). "Sen. Hyde-Smith Blocks Biden Judge Pick for Mississippi Over Trans Rights, Soros". Mississippi Free Press. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  31. ↑ "Letter to Senator Hyde-Smith". April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Biden Court Pick Rejects GOP Senator's Claims About Background". April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  33. 1 2 3 Vance, Taylor (April 12, 2023). "Colom asks Hyde-Smith to reverse her opposition to his judicial nomination". Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  34. ↑ ”Over 75 Criminal Justice Leaders Condemn the Criminalization of Transgender People and Gender-Affirming Healthcare”, Fair and Just Prosecution (Jun 29, 2021) retrieved October 25, 2026.
  35. ↑ Vance, Taylor (December 5, 2023). "Despite bipartisan support, Scott Colom's federal judicial nomination still stalled in Senate". Mississippi Today. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  36. ↑ "PN182 — Scott Winston Colom — The Judiciary". January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  37. ↑ "If a nomination is returned to the President, it is no longer eligible for consideration by the Senate." Return of Nominations to the President Under Senate Rule XXXI
  38. ↑ McRae, Emma (September 3, 2025). "Colom announces Senate run for Hyde-Smith's seat". The Commercial Dispatch. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  39. ↑ John, Arit (March 10, 2026). "Mississippi senator to face a prosecutor she blocked from the federal bench". CNN. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  40. ↑ "Q&A Ty Pinkins an Independent, top issues and why he's still in the race". MPB — Mississippi Public Broadcasting. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
  41. ↑ "Who's backing Hyde-Smith and Colom? A look at key endorsements - SuperTalk Mississippi". October 22, 2026. Retrieved November 12, 2026.
  42. ↑ Dovere, Edward-Isaac (November 11, 2026). "How Scott Colom defied more than a century of history to win Democrats a Mississippi Senate seat | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved November 12, 2026.
  43. ↑ "Exclusive: Obama cuts ad in Mississippi Senate race". Archived from the original on October 21, 2026. Retrieved November 12, 2026.
  44. ↑ Herreria, Carla (August 25, 2026). "Can a Democrat become Mississippi's next senator? Pete Buttigieg thinks so". MS NOW. Retrieved November 12, 2026.
  45. ↑ Source, Custom (October 28, 2026). "Former President Bill Clinton to campaign in Mississippi for Scott Colom". The Dispatch. Retrieved November 12, 2026.
  46. 1 2 3 Dovere, Edward-Isaac (November 11, 2026). "How Scott Colom defied more than a century of history to win Democrats a Mississippi Senate seat". CNN. Retrieved November 11, 2026.
  47. 1 2 3 4 Barrow, Bill; Bates, Sophie (November 11, 2026). "Mississippi elects Democrat Scott Colom as state's first Black US senator since Reconstruction". Associated Press. Retrieved November 11, 2026.
  48. ↑ Geraghty, Jim (November 5, 2026). "Why Mississippi Voters Have a Beef with Cindy Hyde-Smith". National Review. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  49. ↑ "Decision Desk HQ: Mississippi Senate Forecast". Decision Desk HQ. November 4, 2026. Archived from the original on October 2, 2026. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
  50. ↑ "FiftyPlusOne Senate Forecast". FiftyPlusOne. Archived from the original on November 3, 2026. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
  51. ↑ Parker, Brooke (November 5, 2026). "Colom leads Senate race against Hyde-Smith on day 3 of ballot counting". WDAM-TV. Retrieved November 5, 2026.
  52. ↑ "Democrat Scott Colom Wins Mississippi Senate Race, CNN Projects". Bloomberg. November 11, 2026. Retrieved November 11, 2026.
  53. ↑ Carruth, Sydney (November 11, 2026). "Scott Colom wins Mississippi Senate race in major victory for Democrats". MS NOW. Retrieved November 11, 2026.
  54. ↑ Singer, Jeff (November 11, 2026). "Democrat Scott Colom makes history with victory in Mississippi Senate race". The Downballot. Retrieved November 11, 2026.
  55. 1 2 Corder, Frank (November 11, 2026). "Senator-elect: Colom wins Mississippi U.S. Senate race". Magnolia Tribune. Retrieved November 12, 2026.
  56. ↑ "BRUCE, Blanche Kelso". History, Art & Archives. United States House of Representatives. Retrieved November 12, 2026.
  57. ↑ "STENNIS, John Cornelius". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. United States Congress. Retrieved November 12, 2026.
  58. ↑ "Scott Colom wins in Mississippi, Congress latest". CNN. November 11, 2026. Retrieved November 12, 2026.
  59. 1 2 "Democratic senate candidate Scott Colom talks tariffs, affordability and healthcare". WLOX. October 19, 2026. Retrieved November 9, 2026.
  60. 1 2 "Where Scott Stands - Scott Colom for Senate". October 7, 2026. Retrieved November 10, 2026.
  61. ↑ "Q&A: Scott Colom on Mississippi Senate race, healthcare, his viral campaign ad and more". October 7, 2026. Retrieved November 11, 2026.
  62. ↑ Harrison, Heather (October 23, 2026). "Kamala Harris Campaigns with Scott Colom in Columbus to Boost Voter Turnout". Mississippi Free Press. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
  63. ↑ Scott Colom on LinkedIn
  64. ↑ Khan, Melina (November 11, 2026). "Meet Scott Colom's family, including his wife and 2 daughters". USA Today. Retrieved November 11, 2026.
  65. ↑ "Mississippi Senate ballot fight heats up as Colom's lead grows". Democracy Docket. November 6, 2026. Retrieved November 12, 2026.
  66. ↑ "Scott Colom (@scott_colom) on X". X (formerly Twitter). November 7, 2026. Retrieved November 12, 2026.
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