Pinkins urged to drop out of Mississippi’s U.S. Senate race. The Independent says he won’t withdraw

Pinkins pressed to drop out of.

Key points

• Colom's campaign shared a poll from Change Research on Friday that indicated Hyde-Smith with 43% over Colom at 40%, with Pinkins at 6%.
• The 78-year-old, 33-year incumbent Democrat looks to continue his hold on Mississippi's 2nd Congressional District.
• The Mississippi Republican Party believes a 19-second AI video depicting Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith fleeing reporters.
• The Delta-based attorney left the Democratic Party in July 2025 after he had confirmed his second run for U.S.
• Eller, Foster work to unseat odds-on favorite Thompson in Mississippi's 2nd Congressional District.

Pinkins pressed to drop out of Mississippi's U.S. Senate race. The Independent notes he won't withdraw. By: Frank Corder – October 27, 2026. Ty Pinkins (Photo from Pinkins' Facebook page).

Democrat Scott Colom's supporters are urging Ty Pinkins to bow out to avoid "splitting the vote, " to which the Independent candidate remarked, "You have every right to support the candidate of your choice, just as I have every right to run for public office."

Independent U.S. Senate candidate Ty Pinkins, a former Democrat, emphatically remarked Tuesday that he is not withdrawing from the race ahead of the General Election next week.

"TO THOSE CALLING ON ME TO DROP OUT OF THE U.S. SENATE RACE: NO. I WILL NOT WITHDRAW, " Pinkins posted on his Facebook page.

Democrat Scott Colom's campaign continues to claim he is within striking distance of toppling incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith next Tuesday, causing plenty of Colom supporters to openly lament Pinkins' continued candidacy fearing it will cause the Democrat to lose.

Colom's campaign shared a poll from Change Research on Friday that indicated Hyde-Smith with 43% over Colom at 40%, with Pinkins at 6%. Similar polling results were published six years ago in Hyde-Smith's race versus Democrat Mike Espy, yet when the votes were tallied, the Republican won by 10%.

As of Tuesday, Polymarket continues to view Hyde-Smith as the odds-on favorite, with an 87% chance of winning.

Colom's supporters are urging Pinkins to bow out to avoid "splitting the vote, " telling Pinkins on Facebook, "We are only asking you to align with Colom to get us over the threshold, " and, "Please understand the bigger picture."

While another stated, "The projections have you so far behind and that's not going to change in the next 7 days, "Putting your ego aside and withdrawing your candidacy will serve your citizens far better than staying in a race you will clearly lose, " one commenter informed Pinkins. We need a change in MS and Colom is our chance to create it happen."

Nevertheless, Pinkins stated he served the country honorably in uniform for 21 years, including multiple combat tours and more than three years at war.

"I nearly lost my life in combat defending the very rights that allow Americans-including both of my opponents-to participate freely in our democratic process, " Pinkins wrote. "And now, some of those same Americans are asking me to surrender those rights since my candidacy doesn't align with their political preferences? I did not spend 21 years defending the constitutional rights of others only to be informed that I should surrender those same rights myself."

Pinkins went on to write, "You have every right to backing the candidate of your choice, just as I have every right to run for public office. And Mississippi voters have every right to decide for themselves. Our democracy does not belong to either political party. It belongs to the American individuals. NO. I WILL NOT WITHDRAW."

For context, the Delta-based attorney left the Democratic Party in July 2025 after he had confirmed his second run for U.S. Senate just months earlier.

Pinkins lost his first run for U.S. Senate in November 2024 to U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R), only able to muster just over 37% of the vote. His campaign was interrupted in 2023 when the Mississippi Democratic Party tapped him to be the substitute candidate in the Secretary of State race in the General Election. Pinkins, who entered the race in September that year, went on to lose to Secretary of State Michael Watson (R) by 19 points, pulling in just over 40% off the vote.

Still believing he could raise his profile and growth his competitiveness, Pinkins stepped up again to run for the U.S. Senate as a Democrat in the 2026 midterms, this time versus Hyde-Smith.

Nevertheless, a rift emerged between him and the leaders in the Mississippi Democratic Party. Pinkins informed Magnolia Tribune last year that he was called on – more than once – to "make room" for someone else. The someone else was Colom, the party's nominee in this year's General Election.

Independent U.S. Senate candidate Pinkins believes plenty of Mississippi voters want something different.

That gatekeeping mentality, Pinkins remarked at the time, has pushed the Mississippi Democratic Party to a point "where the party doesn't just lack a bench-it's created a climate where the next generation of leaders is too intimidated to even step up to bat, afraid they'll be punished, ignored, or publicly ridiculed for daring to lead without permission."

Pinkins remarked of his leaving the Democratic Party that his personal experiences with party insiders demonstrated that they have prioritized fundraising over values and vision. Regarding the Author(s).

Frank Corder is a native of Pascagoula. For almost two decades, he has noted and offered analysis on administration, public policy, business and matters of faith. Frank's interviews, articles, and columns have been shared throughout Mississippi as well as in national publications. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, providing insight and commentary on the inner workings of the Magnolia State. Frank has served his community in both elected and appointed public office, hosted his own local radio and television programs, and managed private businesses all while being an engaged husband and father. Email Frank: [email protected].

News Frank Corder October 23, 2026. Attorney General to Colom: Remove AI ads or face injunction.

Attorney General Lynn Fitch additionally asked Colom and his campaign to preserve all records related to this matter so as not to obstruct justice "as violations of this election integrity law can carry criminal penalties." More From This Author. News Frank Corder October 26, 2026.

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Buffington notes he requires "zero on-the-job training" to be Mississippi's next State Auditor. News Cass Rutledge October 23, 2026.

Meanwhile, the 78-year-old, 33-year incumbent Democrat looks to continue his hold on Mississippi's 2nd Congressional District. Bennie Thompson's $1.4 million campaign war chest far exceeds his Republican and Independent challengers. This person have a combined cash on hand of $47, 000. Elections Frank Corder October 22, 2026. MSGOP claims Colom's AI generated video violates Mississippi law.

Meanwhile, the Mississippi Republican Party believes a 19-second AI video depicting Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith fleeing reporters. It democrat Scott Colom asserted was "based on a true story, " violates state law for disseminating a digitization within 90 days of an election that was done with the intent to injure another candidate and influence the results of the election. News Matt Ott, Associated Press October 27, 2026.

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Taken together, the developments around pinkins urged to drop out of Mississippi’ s U.S. Senate race. The Independent point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.