I am writing to each of Mississippi’s U.S. Senate candidates—Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, Democrat Scott Colom and independent Ty Pinkins—in my capacity as chairman of the Libertarian Party of Mississippi because there is no Libertarian candidate in this year’s U.S. Senate race.
As a result, Libertarian voters will have to decide for themselves whether one of you has earned their support. I am not writing to endorse any of you or to tell Libertarian voters how they should vote. I am writing to give each of you an opportunity to make your case directly to those voters.
The questions I am asking are not meant to be a random list of policy questions, but personalized to your campaign. I drafted these questions after reviewing your positions and considering the issues that need to be addressed for Libertarians to trust you with their vote. As Libertarians, we want a government that is peaceful, fiscally responsible and bound by the constitution.
U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith
Sen. Hyde-Smith, you have served in the U.S. Senate since 2018, giving you a substantial record for Mississippi voters to examine. You have also campaigned on fiscal restraint and limiting the federal government’s role in areas such as health care.
For voters considering whether your record and your plans for another term align with their concerns about government spending and constitutional limits on federal power, I would ask you the following:
1. The national debt: When you took office in 2018, the national debt was approximately $21.5 trillion. It has since nearly doubled, reaching more than $40 trillion in 2026. With Republicans holding majorities in both the House and Senate, and the CBO projecting a deficit of approximately $1.6 trillion this year, why should voters expect fiscal restraint from you if reelected?
2. Presidential war powers: You voted against a war powers resolution that would have limited President Donald Trump’s authority to continue U.S. military action against Iran. Can you explain your vote and if you believe Congress has a role in declaring war?
3. Congressional independence: You have consistently supported President Donald Trump during your time in the Senate. Can you identify a current policy supported by President Trump with which you disagree and why?
Mr. Scott Colom
Mr. Colom, you have presented yourself as a Democrat focused on health care, wages, and the needs of Mississippi communities. You have also emphasized working across party lines and addressing the cost of living.
For voters considering whether your approach to federal spending, taxation, and economic policy aligns with their concerns about the size and role of government, I would ask you the following:
1. Federal health care spending: You have frequently voiced support for increasing federal funding for Medicaid and Medicare and criticized cuts to these programs. The federal government already spends well over $2 trillion annually on these two programs alone. How much federal spending on health care do you believe is necessary, and how would you propose paying for it?
2. Federal taxation: You have criticized the 2017 tax cuts as a “handout” for individuals making over $600,000. As Libertarians, we believe individuals have a right to retain the fruits of their labor and that taxation should be limited. Under current federal tax brackets, a $600,000 earner is already subject to a 35% marginal income-tax rate. If you could set federal tax policy, how much of that individual’s $600,000 annual income would you collect in federal income taxes?
3. Raising wages while lowering prices: In a campaign video, you said you would raise the minimum wage while also lowering prices for working Mississippians. How would you ensure that Mississippi businesses can afford higher wages without passing those higher labor costs on to customers through higher prices?
Mr. Ty Pinkins
Mr. Pinkins, you are running as an independent candidate outside the traditional Democratic and Republican party structures. That gives you an opportunity to make your case directly to voters based on your own stated positions and proposals.
For voters considering whether your approach to federal health care spending and government involvement in the private sector aligns with their concerns about limited government and individual freedom, I would ask you the following:
1. Medicare for All: You have expressed support for Medicare for All and have described health care as a right. A Medicare-based single-payer system could significantly expand federal spending; the Congressional Budget Office estimated that federal health care subsidies would be $1.5 trillion to $3.0 trillion higher in 2030 under single-payer options. At a time when both parties have normalized deficit spending, Libertarians view trillions in new spending with extreme caution. What do you estimate your proposed system would cost the federal government annually, and what analysis or source supports that estimate?
2. Paying for expanded federal spending: How would you fund this new federal spending? Please specify any proposed tax increases, expected revenue, or spending reductions elsewhere in the federal budget.
3. Private health care: Under your proposed Medicare for All system, would private health insurance companies and private medical practices continue to operate, including for-profit providers? If so, what role would they have alongside the federal system?
Sen. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Colom, and Mr. Pinkins, I have asked each of you questions that I believe are relevant to whether you can earn the votes of Libertarian voters.
I am not asking you to become Libertarians, nor am I asking you to adopt the Libertarian Party’s positions. I am asking you to explain your own positions and give these voters a clear understanding of what you would do if elected.
I hope each of you will respond publicly.
This MFP Voices opinion essay reflects the personal opinion of its author(s). The column does not necessarily represent the views of the Mississippi Free Press, its staff or board members. To submit an opinion for the MFP Voices section, send up to 1,200 words and sources fact-checking the included information to voices@mississippifreepress.org. We welcome a wide variety of viewpoints.
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