GOP retains Miss. Senate seat
Hyde-smith gets past Espy despite late controversies
JACKSON, Miss. — Republican
U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-smith won a divisive Mississippi runoff Tuesday, surviving a video-recorded remark decried as racist and defeating a former federal official who hoped to become the state’s first African-american senator since Reconstruction.
After defeating Democrat Mike Espy, a former U.S. agriculture secretary, Hyde-smith said Tuesday that she will work hard to represent everyone in Mississippi, regardless of whether they voted for her.
“I’m going to work very hard to represent all Mississippians,” she told supporters.
Espy said he’s proud of the “historic campaign” he ran, and he thanked supporters for their help.
Addressing his supporters Tuesday night, he said: “While this is not the result we were hoping for, I am proud of the historic campaign we ran and grateful for the support we received across Mississippi. We built the largest grassroots organization our state has seen in a generation.”
Espy also said he called Hydesmith to congratulate her and that she has his prayers.
With Hyde-smith’s victory, Republicans control 53 of the Senate’s 100 seats. The GOP lost control of the House.
The runoff was rocked by a video in which Hyde-smith said of a supporter,
“If he invited me to a public hanging, I’d be on the front row.” A separate video showed her talking about “liberal folks” and making it “just a little more difficult” for them to vote.
The GOP pumped resources into Mississippi, and President Donald Trump made a strong effort on behalf of Hyde-smith, holding last-minute rallies in Mississippi on Monday.
She said the “public hanging” comment was “an exaggerated expression of regard” for a fellow cattle rancher. During a televised debate nine days after the video was publicized, she apologized to “anyone that was offended by my comments,” but also said the remark was used as a “weapon” against her.
Some corporate donors, including Walmart, requested refunds on their campaign contributions to Hydesmith after the videos surfaced.
Hyde-smith was in her second term as Mississippi agriculture commissioner when Republican Gov. Phil Bryant appointed her to temporarily succeed GOP Sen. Thad Cochran. The longtime lawmaker retired in April amid health concerns.
The win makes Hyde-smith, 59, the first woman elected to Congress from Mississippi.
Trump Tweeted Tuesday night: “Congratulations to Senator Cindy Hyde-smith on your big WIN in the Great State of Mississippi. We are all very proud of you!”