Jackson Jambalaya

On Wednesday, I announced that I will appoint Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Cindy Hyde-Smith to the U.S. Senate. She will replace U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran who recently announced that he will be retiring on April 1, after nearly 50 years of outstanding service and dedication to the people of Mississippi.


For many years, I have been impressed with how Cindy has worked tirelessly on behalf of the men and women in agriculture — Mississippi’s largest industry and a treasured way of life in our state. Her intellect, compassion, toughness and determination to get things done exemplify everything Mississippi needs in the U.S. Senate.

As I considered the decision to appoint a new U.S. senator, I carefully weighed the qualifications, experience, character and values of who would best represent our state in Washington. Knowing firsthand of Cindy’s conservative record, her integrity and most importantly, her dedication to her faith in God, I am confident she is the right choice for the job.

I can also tell you from experience that Cindy Hyde-Smith is a rock-solid conservative. When I was lieutenant governor and she served in the state Senate, she was the most reliable vote I had for conservative causes. As a state senator, she quickly became known as a passionate advocate of farmers and ranchers in Mississippi, serving as the chairman of the Agriculture Committee for eight years and as an influential member of numerous other committees.

Cindy led the fight to protect private property rights against eminent domain abuses and was a strong supporter of tort reform which ended lawsuit abuse in Mississippi, paving the way for more jobs and new businesses locating in Mississippi. She also supported fiscally conservative budget initiatives. When the recession hit America, Mississippi’s budget was deeply impacted. Cindy helped craft a balanced budget by cutting spending, not borrowing more money.

BIPEC, Mississippi’s largest pro-business organization, has consistently rated her as a “business champion.” Over her time in the Legislature, she was among the highest-rated senators on pro-business legislation. She has a strong social conservative voting record with a 100 percent pro-life rating, and she’s a lifetime member of the NRA.

Cindy also successfully carried the banner for the Republican Party in two statewide elections for Agriculture Commissioner and she’s demonstrated her appeal to voters by winning in an overwhelming fashion. That’s because Mississippians appreciate the good job she’s done in one of the most important positions in our state.

As agriculture commissioner, she modernized the Department of Agriculture and Commerce by being a strong leader who knew how to stay on budget and get results for our farmers and small businesses. Cindy led the fight to open foreign markets for American products to be sold overseas, and she fought for country-of-origin food labeling. According to the state Legislature, she ran a “model agency” based on performance and program effectiveness.

Cindy Hyde-Smith is also a longtime, strong supporter of President Donald Trump. She co-chaired the Trump Agriculture Policy Advisory Council during the presidential campaign. She has continued to work closely with the Trump administration, including participating in key White House meetings with Vice President Mike Pence and USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue regarding the benefits of the tax-cut legislation.

I know that once she’s sworn in as our next U.S. senator, she will work closely with our Republican delegation and President Trump to strengthen our military, secure our borders, protect our constitutional rights, continue rolling back unnecessary regulations and promote economic policies that allow the private sector to grow more jobs and opportunities now — and for future generations.

It is a historic time for Mississippi as we are sending our first woman to the U.S. Senate. But this appointment is not about gender or one person — it’s about doing what’s best for our state.

It is my hope and belief that Cindy will inspire all young people to work hard to achieve their goals because as Cindy recently said, “the American dream is alive and well in Mississippi.”

Cindy Hyde-Smith is a Mississippi success story and will make us proud representing our state in the U.S. Senate.


Phil Bryant is the governor of Mississippi.