Cindy Hyde-Smith
Cindy Hyde-Smith | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2021 | |
| United States Senator from Mississippi | |
| Assumed office April 2, 2018 Serving with Roger Wicker | |
| Preceded by | Thad Cochran |
| 7th Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce | |
| In office January 10, 2012 – April 1, 2018 | |
| Governor | Phil Bryant |
| Preceded by | Lester Spell |
| Succeeded by | Andy Gipson |
| Member of the Mississippi State Senate from the 39th district | |
| In office January 4, 2000 – January 10, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | W. L. Rayborn |
| Succeeded by | Sally Doty |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Cindy Hyde May 10, 1959 Brookhaven, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican (2010–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Democratic (until 2010) |
| Spouse |
Michael Smith (m. 1996) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Copiah–Lincoln Community College (AA) University of Southern Mississippi (BA) |
| Website | Senate website Campaign website |
Cindy Hyde-Smith (née Hyde; born May 10, 1959)[1] is an American politician and lobbyist serving since 2018 as the junior United States senator from Mississippi.[2] A member of the Republican Party, she served from 2012 to 2018 as the Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce and from 2000 to 2012 in the Mississippi State Senate.
Born in Brookhaven, Mississippi, Hyde-Smith is a graduate of Copiah–Lincoln Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi. In 1999, she was elected to the Mississippi State Senate as a Democrat. She represented the 39th district from 2000 to 2012. In 2010, Hyde-Smith switched parties and became a Republican, citing her conservative beliefs.[3] Hyde-Smith was elected Mississippi agriculture commissioner in 2011; she is the first woman to be elected to that office, and she was reelected in 2015.
On March 21, 2018, Governor Phil Bryant announced his intention to appoint Hyde-Smith to the United States Senate seat being vacated due to the resignation of Thad Cochran.[4] Hyde-Smith was sworn into office on April 9, 2018. She is the first woman to represent Mississippi in Congress.[5] Hyde-Smith won the 2018 special election for the remainder of Cochran's term, and was reelected in 2020.
- ^ "Cindy Hyde-Smith". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
- ^ "Senators of the United States 1789–present, A chronological list of senators since the First Congress in 1789" (PDF). Senate Historical Office. April 12, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ "Sen. Hyde-Smith joins Republicans – Daily Leader". Daily Leader. December 28, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ Sullivan, Sean; Dawsey, Josh (March 21, 2018). "Mississippi governor appoints Cindy Hyde-Smith to the Senate — and draws a backlash from the White House". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
- ^ Killough, Ashley (April 9, 2018). "Hyde-Smith becomes first woman to represent Mississippi in Congress". CNN. Retrieved April 19, 2018.