To learn more about the general election of November 3, visit our 2020 Voter Guide. Cindy Hyde Smith, 61, the incumbent Republican U.S. Senator from Mississippi, is the first woman elected as a member of Congress from Mississippi. Hyde-Smith was a former state legislator and former state agriculture commissioner between 2012-2018. She was first appointed by the then-Gov. Phil Bryant was appointed by then-Gov to fill the U.S. Senate spot left vacant by Republican ThadCochran. In November 2018, Hyde-Smith won a special election to fill the seat. Hyde-Smith was a Democrat throughout her 12-year term as a state senator. She has a conservative voting record and has been a strong supporter of President Donald Trump’s foreign and domestic policies. Hyde-Sith is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. She serves on six subcommittees, including agriculture. She also chairs the Legislative Branch Subcommittee._x000D