Hyde-Smith's Past Shadows Senate Race

The Nov. 3 general election battle in this state between incumbent U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and two challengers will decide her long-term future and whether the voters have forgiven her for a political faux-pas.

Many will remember a grievous comment that Hyde-Smith made on November 2, 2018, during an appearance in Tupelo when she said that "If he invited me to a public hanging, I'd be on the front row."

She was referring to a supporter who had introduced her at a rally to bolster her candidacy in her runoff election against former Congressman Mike Espy. The reaction was fast and furious, with more than 1.5 million online video viewings, The Clarion Ledger reported.

Hyde-Smith, then serving as state agriculture commissioner, had been appointed by Gov. Phil Bryant in March 2018 to complete the term of retiring U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran. She defeated Democrat Espy and Independent Chris McDaniel in a special election and runoff for the almost three years left in Cochran's term.

Operator of a cattle ranch fronting I-55 at Brookhaven, Hyde-Smith secured her first full six-year term in the Senate in the general election of November 2020. While much dismay still existed in the state and nationally about her earlier mention of "hanging," she nonetheless defeated Espy again, this time by 10 percentage points.

If the voters of Mississippi award Hyde-Smith another full six-year term in November's general election, this could be the last time that the issue will matter politically for her. She will in essence receive a lifetime appointment to the Senate, similarly given to U.S. Supreme Court justices and Methodist bishops--due to her deeper entrenchment and likely future unbeatability.

The words that Hyde-Smith uttered at the campaign stop carry with them the ghosts of Mississippi's violent past, one replete with dozens of barbaric racial-related killings, including multiple hangings of Black citizens.

Some in the crowd attending the rally unexpectedly chuckled at the surprising comment, the video showed.

The remark could have been scoffed off except this is Mississippi with its dark and sordid racial history. A member of the august U.S. Senate, particularly one from Mississippi, should be overly cautious about its use, certain to inflame any political conversation.

The video of her using the word went viral almost immediately and she later apologized--necessary due to the amount of incoming vitriol she was drawing from across the state and country.

"For anyone that was offended by my comments, I certainly apologize. There was no ill will, no intent whatsoever in my statements," Hyde-Smith said in a statement.

She added that "any attempt to turn this into a negative connotation is ridiculous."

Nothing Hyde-Smith said could have relieved the controversy caused by the remark. Ever since, most news coverage of the senator's career has included mention of the lapse.

She faces Democrat Scott Colom of Columbus and Independent Ty Pinkins of Vicksburg in the Nov. 3 election. The race could play a big role in which party controls the Senate for the remainder of President Trump's term.

Hyde-Smith will use her successes on the Senate Agriculture Committee as the basis of her reelection bid. She has steadfastly promoted the "Buy America Cotton Program" to industry; fought the USDA on plans to cut farm research; and battled for more funds for the Yazoo Backwater flood area. She is an intense supporter of the state's catfish and shrimping industries. She's also been strong in Senate conservatives' anti-abortion efforts.

Whether all of that is enough to make voters forget her noxious comment of 2018 is this election's key question.

---Mac Gordon is a native of McComb. He is a retired newspaperman. He can be reached at macmarygordon@gmail.com.