Scott Colom, a Democratic district attorney seeking his party’s nomination for U.S. Senate, raised the most campaign money of Mississippi’s federal candidates by the end of last year, raising over $420,000 in the last reporting cycle. 

But incumbent Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith still far outpaces him and other federal candidates with cash on hand, reporting more than $2.4 million at her disposal. 

Colom is the district attorney for Noxubee, Clay, Lowndes and Oktibbeha counties and has not appeared on a statewide ballot before. To become the first Democrat since the 1980s to win a U.S. Senate race in Mississippi, he would likely need a significant amount of cash to build name recognition and run campaign ads. 

Colom, in a statement to Mississippi Today, said his campaign team is building the strongest grassroots campaign Mississippi has ever seen and “this is just the beginning.” 

“People in all 82 counties are joining our movement because they’re tired of having a senator who doesn’t show up and doesn’t fight for us,” Colom said.

Hyde-Smith has the power of incumbency, existing campaign infrastructure and the endorsement of President Donald Trump. But national Democrats believe the junior U.S. senator is vulnerable and have said they’re willing to pour money into the state to try to flip a Senate seat blue in Mississippi. 

Nathan Calvert, communications director for the Hyde-Smith campaign, said in a statement that the senator enjoys broad support across the state and continues to break previous fundraising records. 

“We recently held a six-figure event at Mar-a-Lago with many Mississippians in attendance,” Calvert said. “Now we’re planning a huge event in Jackson this spring with Senator Kennedy from Louisiana.”

Both Colom and Hyde-Smith are competing in party primaries on March 10. On the Democratic side, Colom is competing against Albert Littell and Priscilla Till. Hyde-Smith is competing against Sarah Adlakha in the GOP primary. 

The party nominees will compete against Ty Pinkins, an independent candidate, in the general election. Pinkins raised $9,061 last quarter and has  $2,979 in cash on hand, according to campaign reports. 

Here are the latest campaign finance reports from Mississippi’s congressional candidates: 

U.S. Senate

• Sarah Adlakha, Republican
  • Money raised 4th quarter: $6,371
  • Cash on hand: $35,663
• Scott Colom, Democrat
  • Money raised 4th quarter: $420,327
  • Cash on hand: $698,749
• Cindy Hyde-Smith, Republican incumbent
  • Money raised 4th quarter: $357,995
  • Cash on hand: $2,493,547
• Albert R. Littell, Democrat
  • Money raised 4th quarter: No report found 
  • Cash on hand: No report found 
• Ty Pinkins, independent
  • Money raised 4th quarter: $9,061
  • Cash on hand:  $2,979
• Priscilla W. Till, Democrat
  • Money raised 4th quarter: $2,583
  • Cash on hand:  $2,874

U.S. House of Representatives – District 1

• Kelvin Buck, Democrat
  • Money raised 4th quarter: $5,690
  • Cash on hand: $13,514
• Cliff Johnson, Democrat
  • Money raised 4th quarter: $258,863
  • Cash on hand: $151,158   
• Trent Kelly, Republican incumbent
  • Money raised 4th quarter: $106,991 
  • Cash on hand: $682,524

U.S. House of Representatives – District 2

• Ron Eller, Republican
  • Money raised 4th quarter: $2,535
  • Cash on hand: $41,968
• Bennie G. Thompson, Democratic incumbent
  • Money raised 4th quarter: $117,138
  • Cash on hand:  $1,659,853
• Evan Littleton Turnage, Democrat
  • Money raised 4th quarter: $65,464
  • Cash on hand:  $53,877
• Pertis Herman Williams III, Democrat
  • Money raised 4th quarter: No report found 
  • Cash on hand:  No report found 
• Kevin Wilson, Republican
  • Money raised 4th quarter: $5,676
  • Cash on hand: $15,997

U.S. House of Representatives – District 3

• Michael A. Chiaradio, Democrat
  • Money raised 4th quarter: $50,068
  • Cash on hand: $20,802
• Michael Guest, Republican incumbent
  • Money raised 4th quarter: $90,544
  • Cash on hand: $816,968

U.S. House of Representatives – District 4:

• Paul James Blackman, Democrat
  • Money raised 4th quarter: No report found 
  • Cash on hand: No report found 
• Mike Ezell, Republican incumbent
  • Money raised 4th quarter: $221,650
  • Cash on hand: $422,447
• D. Ryan Grover, Democrat
  • Money raised 4th quarter: No report found
  • Cash on hand: No report found 
• Jeffrey Hulum III, Democrat
  • Money raised 4th quarter: No report found
  • Cash on hand: No report found
• Sawyer Walters, Republican
  • Money raised 4th quarter: No report found
  • Cash on hand: No report found