Cindy Hyde-Smith — Republican Candidate for U.S. Senate in Mississippi, 2026

Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith supports stronger border security and enforcement of U.S. immigration laws. She advocates for a nationwide E-Verify system to ensure a legal workforce and opposes rewarding illegal immigration. Hyde-Smith voted against S.Amdt. 4290, an amendment to H.R. 7148, which sought to rescind appropriations for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She believes securing the nation's borders is the federal government’s first responsibility.

Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith supports patient-centered health care reforms aimed at affordability without increasing government involvement, while also prioritizing improvements in rural health care. She supported the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act, which empowers pregnant college students to continue their higher education. Hyde-Smith also worked to reinstate the Critical Access Hospital designation for Franklin County Hospital and reintroduced the Institutional Development Award Reauthorization Act to enhance biomedical research funding distribution.

““There is still so much work to do to improve rural healthcare in Mississippi, but I’m very happy that we’ve acted to help the Franklin County Hospital and give it a stronger chance to be on a stronger financial footing. Without this, the hospital could have closed. CMS dropping the critical access status wasn’t warranted and we’ve come up with a sensible solution to ensure continued access to quality rural healthcare there and for other hospitals in that situation,” said Cindy Hyde-Smith, as reported on hydesmith.senate.gov, February 3, 2026.”

Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith opposes a bill to codify an offshore energy moratorium, stating that permanent offshore energy restrictions would limit efforts to unleash American energy. She supports responsible exploration and production of the nation's energy resources, including new technologies for biofuels. Hyde-Smith also advocates for balanced and responsible resource management policies to ensure conservation and good stewardship of natural resources.

Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith chairs the Senate Pro-Life Caucus and has reintroduced legislation to roll back FDA policies that expanded access to chemical abortion drugs. She also cosponsors the Pregnant Students’ Right Act, aiming to require universities to support pregnant students. Additionally, she has pressured HHS to withdraw proposed Obamacare abortion rules, citing legal violations and increased taxpayer-funded abortion.

Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith voted for the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act to advance President Trump’s "Peace Through Strength" agenda, emphasizing military modernization and national security funding. This bill authorized a 3.8 percent military pay raise, additional shipbuilding, and nuclear weapons programs. She also supported S. Amdt. 429 to the FY2024 NDAA, requiring presidential consent for NATO withdrawal, and S. 316, repealing the 2002 AUMF, for which Foreign Policy for America scored her positively.

““President Trump has set a course to restore the strength of our national defense to ensure our fighting men and women have the tools, technology, and training to defend our interest in an increasingly hostile world. The FY2026 NDAA builds on the down payment we made with the One Big Beautiful Bill by authorizing funding priorities and reforms,” said Hyde-Smith, of Brookhaven. “I thank Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker for his leadership on this bill.” (Cindy Hyde-Smith, Daily Leader, October 12, 2025)”

Research pending more substantial sources.

Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith advocates for protecting Second Amendment rights, citing her family's enjoyment of firearms and hunting as part of living the right to bear arms. She renewed support for the 'Back the Blue Act' to increase penalties for attacking law enforcement officers. Hyde-Smith also reintroduced the 'GRIP Act' to prevent states from using federal funds to maintain gun owner registries and supported the 'Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act' to combat gun thefts.

“SUPPORTING OUR 2ND AMENDMENT RIGHTS As the owner of an enhanced-carry permit, Cindy lives the right to keep and bear arms in her everyday life. She and her family own firearms, enjoy hunting, and cherish the great outdoors. She will always stand up for our 2nd Amendment Constitutional rights. (Cindy Hyde-Smith, Ballotpedia)”