Democrat Scott Colom raised nearly $600,000 for his 2026 U.S. Senate campaign in just 27 days after announcing his run.
By comparison, Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith has raised $1.1 million in the last three months, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission for the quarter ending Sept. 30.
For Colom, a Columbus native and district attorney for the 16th circuit, the lion’s share of donations came from individuals – including prominent names like former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, who gave $1,000, and George Soros and his son Alexander Soros, who each gave $7,000.
Only about $40,000 of Colom’s donations last quarter came from political action committees.
Conversely, Hyde-Smith picked up $343,802 from PACs last quarter, most prominently more than $160,000 through the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Dating back to Jan. 1, Hyde-Smith has raised more than $3.9 million for her reelection campaign, and has $2.34 million of that on-hand.
Colom, so far, has spent $18,647.70 and has $576,144.89 on hand.
Among Hyde-Smith’s Republican primary competition, Sara Adlakha raised $56,670 last quarter, all from individuals. This calendar year, her campaign also took $201,000 in candidate-guaranteed loans. She’s spent $135,560.50 and has almost $122,000 on hand.
A campaign finance report for Republican Andrew S. Smith was not available on the FEC website Monday. Nor was there one available for Democrats Albert Littell and Priscilla Williams-Till or independent Ty Pinkins.
House District 1
Incumbent Republican Trent Kelly added more than $185,000 to his coffers last quarter. He has raised almost $500,000 so far this year and spent almost $400,000.
However, taking into account money his campaign brought into 2025, Kelly has more than $677,000 on hand.
Two Democrats in that House race – Cliff Johnson and Montravius Hall (who announced their candidacy after the deadline) – did not have campaign finance reports posted Monday on the FEC website. Kelvin O’Neal Buck showed $8,500 in fundraising last quarter, all of which he still reports having on hand.
House District 3
Republican incumbent Michael Guest added almost $378,000 for his reelection bid last quarter, about two-thirds of which came from individuals.
This year, he has raised more than $577,000 for his campaign and spent about $196,000.
Taking into account money Guest’s campaign brought into 2025, he has more than $823,000 on hand.
His Republican challenger, who announced in late September, did not have a campaign finance report posted Monday.
Democratic challenger Michael Chiaradio reported only $5,983.34 in fundraising last quarter, after announcing his candidacy in September.
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
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