Skip to main content
The Full Record
Menu
Portrait of Cindy Hyde-SmithPhoto: unitedstates.github.io

MS · Officeholder

Cindy Hyde-Smith

RU.S. Senator · Mississippi

On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: U.S. Senate · Mississippi

Biography

Cindy Hyde-Smith is the Republican incumbent U.S. Senator from Mississippi, seeking a second full term. A cattle farmer from Brookhaven, she served in the Mississippi State Senate and as state Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce before Gov. Phil Bryant appointed her to Thad Cochran's seat in 2018. She won the 2018 special election and a full term in 2020, and her Senate office emphasizes agriculture, shipbuilding and defense, rural health care and Second Amendment and pro-life positions.[1][2]

Hyde-Smith was born in Brookhaven, Mississippi, and grew up in Monticello, Mississippi.[3] She is a graduate of Copiah-Lincoln Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi, where she earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and political science.[2][3] She is a cattle farmer who previously worked as a congressional affairs consultant before being elected to the state legislature.[1] She is a cattle farmer who previously worked as a lobbyist and congressional affairs consultant before returning to Mississippi and running for the state legislature.[1][3] She was elected to the Mississippi State Senate in 1999 and joined it in 2000, representing District 39 until 2012 as a Democrat who switched her party affiliation to Republican in December 2010; her Senate office says she chaired the Agriculture Committee for eight of those years.[1][2][3]

Hyde-Smith was elected Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce in 2011 and re-elected in 2015, serving from 2012 to 2018; she was the first woman to hold the post.[1][2][3] According to her Senate biography, her tenure there included efforts to reopen foreign markets for American beef exports, and the department was recognized as a "model agency" for effectiveness and budget control.[2]

Gov. Phil Bryant appointed Hyde-Smith to the U.S. Senate on April 2, 2018, after Cochran announced his resignation for health reasons, and she became the first woman elected to represent Mississippi in Washington.[1][2][3] She defeated former Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy in a special runoff on November 27, 2018, and again defeated him in the 2020 general election to win a full term.[1] In the 119th Congress she serves on the Appropriations, Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Energy and Natural Resources, and Rules and Administration committees, and chairs the Appropriations subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and the Agriculture subcommittee on Commodities, Derivatives, Risk Management, and Trade.[1][2] Her office says the first bill she introduced as a senator, a migratory bird hunting measure for youth, veterans and active military, became law in March 2019 as part of a larger package, and that she leads the Senate Pro-Life Caucus.[2] She advanced from the Republican primary on March 10, 2026.[1]

Hyde-Smith and her husband Mike have a daughter and live in Brookhaven, according to her Senate biography.[2] The biography describes a fifth-generation farming family that raises beef cattle and is a partner in a local stockyard auction market.[2]

  1. 1.Cindy Hyde-Smith · Ballotpedia Reference
  2. 2.Biography · Office of U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith Official record
  3. 3.Cindy Hyde-Smith · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.

On the ballot

Full candidate research ›U.S. Senate · Mississippi ›

Also on the ballot for this seat

Scott ColomCandidateDU.S. Senate · MississippiMississippiTy PinkinsCandidateINDU.S. Senate · MississippiMississippi

Votes by issue

Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Republicans voted. How topics are assigned

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 6 of 825 party-divided votes on file.

Most often on: Jobs & cost of living (4), Education & families (1), Rights & public safety (1)

  • Kennedy Amdt. No. 6760; To limit price increases for college athletics tickets.

    A yes vote would have adopted Amendment 6760, which would limit price increases for college athletics tickets. (AI-written)

    What it does: Protect College Sports Act of 2026 This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences t…

    Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 31–14, Republicans 9–40

    Sep 28, 2026Official record ↗

  • Paul Amdt. No. 4272; To eliminate funding for refugee and entrant assistance.

    A yes vote sought to adopt Amendment 4272 to H.R. 7148, which would eliminate funding for refugee and entrant assistance. (AI-written)

    What it does: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 This bill provides appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for the remainder of FY2026 and provides continuing FY2026 appropriations for the Department of Homel…

    Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–45, Republicans 32–18

    Jan 30, 2026Official record ↗

  • Paul Amdt. No. 1266; To reduce the amount appropriated for the United States Agency for International Development.

    A yes vote adopted Paul Amendment 1266, to reduce the amount appropriated for the United States Agency for International Development. (AI-written)

    What it does: Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 This act provides continuing FY2025 appropriations for federal agencies and extends various expiring programs and authorities.

    Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–45, Republicans 27–24

    Mar 14, 2025Official record ↗

  • Motion to Table Lee Amdt. No. 4234; To strike the earmark for the Community and Training Center by the New Immigrant Community Empowerment.

    A yes vote set aside (tabled) Amendment 4234 to H.R. 7148, which would have struck the earmark for the Community and Training Center by the New Immigrant Community Empowerment. (AI-written)

    What it does: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 This bill provides appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for the remainder of FY2026 and provides continuing FY2026 appropriations for the Department of Homel…

    Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 45–0, Republicans 10–41

    Jan 30, 2026Official record ↗

  • Motion to Table Lee Amdt. No. 4236; To strike all earmarks.

    A yes vote set aside (tabled) Amendment 4236 to H.R. 7148, which would have struck all earmarks from the bill. (AI-written)

    What it does: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 This bill provides appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for the remainder of FY2026 and provides continuing FY2026 appropriations for the Department of Homel…

    Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 45–0, Republicans 18–33

    Jan 30, 2026Official record ↗

How this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

See all their split votes

Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.

PN1129 · U.S. SENATE

Confirmation: Keith Sonderling, of F.L., to be Secretary of Labor

YesVOTED

Motion: On the Nomination

Confirms Keith Sonderling as Secretary of Labor.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Confirmed 47–41·Substantive·Sep 30, 2026Roll call ↗
PN1129 · U.S. SENATE

Motion to Invoke Cloture: Keith Sonderling to be Secretary of Labor

YesVOTED

Motion: On the Cloture Motion

A yes vote ended debate (cloture) so the Senate could move to a final vote on the nomination of Keith Sonderling to be Secretary of Labor. (AI-written)

Agreed to 53–47·Procedural·Sep 30, 2026Roll call ↗
H.R. 9340 · U.S. SENATE

Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to H.R. 9340; A bill to amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to establish a Federal standard relating to the recovery of the full, incremental costs of upgrades that serve large-load customers, and for other purposes.

YesVOTED

Motion: On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed

A yes vote would have ended debate on whether the Senate should begin considering H.R. 9340, a bill setting a federal standard on recovering the costs of upgrades serving large-load electricity customers (cloture on the motion to proceed). (AI-written)

Ratepayer Protection Act The bill requires state utility regulators and nonregulated utilities to consider implementing a standard to hold certain large-load customers responsible for the costs associated with any generation, transmission, or distribution upgrade of electric service necessary to serve such customers.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Rejected 57–43·Procedural·Sep 30, 2026Roll call ↗
H.R. 7008 · U.S. SENATE

Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed: H.R. 7008; A bill to amend chapter 131 of title 5 to require certain restrictions on stocks for Members of Congress and their spouses and dependents, and for other purposes.

YesVOTED

Motion: On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed

A yes vote would have ended debate on whether the Senate should begin considering H.R. 7008, a bill requiring certain restrictions on stocks held by Members of Congress and their spouses and dependents (cloture on the motion to proceed). (AI-written)

Stop Insider Trading Act This bill generally prohibits Members of Congress and their spouses and dependent children from purchasing stocks and requires public notice before these individuals may sell stocks.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Rejected 53–47·Procedural·Sep 30, 2026Roll call ↗
S.Res. 852 · U.S. SENATE

Motion to Discharge S. Res. 852; A resolution requesting information on Israel's human rights practices pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

NoVOTED

Motion: On the Motion to Discharge

A yes vote would have discharged S.Res. 852, requesting information on Israel's human rights practices under section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act, from committee so the Senate could consider it. (AI-written)

As introduced, requests that the Secretary of State give Congress, within 30 days, a statement on Israel's human rights practices, including information on alleged killings of U.S. citizens by Israeli forces or settlers since 2022, Americans held in Israeli prisons and detained Palestinian children.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Rejected 47–51·Procedural·Sep 29, 2026Roll call ↗
S.J.Res. 197 · U.S. SENATE

Motion to Proceed to S.J. Res. 197; A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services of the Department of Health and Human Services relating to "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2027; and Basic Health Program".

NoVOTED

Motion: On the Motion to Proceed

A yes vote would have moved the Senate to take up S.J.Res. 197, a resolution to disapprove the CMS rule on the 2027 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters and the Basic Health Program. (AI-written)

Overturns the federal health agency's 2027 rule setting payment parameters and standards for Affordable Care Act marketplace plans, including insurer user fees, broker rules, hardship exemptions and catastrophic-plan options, so the rule has no legal effect.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Rejected 48–51·Procedural·Sep 29, 2026Roll call ↗
S. 4668 · U.S. SENATE

S. 4668, as amended; A bill to protect the name, image, and likeness rights of, and provide protections for, student athletes and to promote fair competition among intercollegiate athletics, and for other purposes.

YesVOTED

Motion: On Passage of the Bill

Protect College Sports Act of 2026 This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences to pool and sell certain college sports media rights.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 77–22·Substantive·Sep 28, 2026Roll call ↗
S. 4668 · U.S. SENATE

Booker Amdt. No. 6835; To establish certain standards with respect to coaches of varsity sports teams.

NoVOTED

Motion: On the Amendment S.Amdt. 6835

A yes vote would have adopted Amendment 6835, which would establish certain standards for coaches of varsity sports teams. (AI-written)

Amendment purpose (official): To establish certain standards with respect to coaches of varsity sports teams.

Bill summary: Protect College Sports Act of 2026 This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences to pool and sell certain college sports media rights.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Rejected 47–52·Substantive·Sep 28, 2026Roll call ↗
S. 4668 · U.S. SENATE

Booker Amdt. No. 6805; To increase the limitation on funding for post-eligibility insurance and catastrophic injury for student athletes.

NoVOTED

Motion: On the Amendment S.Amdt. 6805

A yes vote would have adopted Amendment 6805, which would increase the limit on funding for post-eligibility insurance and catastrophic injury coverage for student athletes. (AI-written)

Amendment purpose (official): To increase the limitation on funding for post-eligibility insurance and catastrophic injury for student athletes.

Bill summary: Protect College Sports Act of 2026 This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences to pool and sell certain college sports media rights.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Rejected 49–50·Substantive·Sep 28, 2026Roll call ↗
S. 4668 · U.S. SENATE

Kennedy Amdt. No. 6760; To limit price increases for college athletics tickets.

YesVOTED

Motion: On the Amendment S.Amdt. 6760

A yes vote would have adopted Amendment 6760, which would limit price increases for college athletics tickets. (AI-written)

Amendment purpose (official): To limit price increases for college athletics tickets.

Bill summary: Protect College Sports Act of 2026 This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences to pool and sell certain college sports media rights.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Rejected 42–54·Substantive·Sep 28, 2026Roll call ↗

Showing 10 of 911 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.