Meet Cindy
Cindy Hyde-Smith is the first woman elected to represent Mississippi in the United States Congress. In 2018, she was appointed by Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Senator Thad Cochran. Cindy went on to win a special election for the seat in November 2018.
As a Senator, she has proven to be committed to conservative principles as she works on behalf of all Mississippians.
Before becoming a U.S. Senator, Cindy was the first woman to be elected Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce. First elected in 2011 she easily won reelection in 2015.
Prior to leading the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, she served 12 years in the Mississippi State Senate, including eight years as the chairman of the Agriculture Committee, a position previously never held by a woman. As a legislator, she championed policies to advance and preserve the agriculture industry. She defended private property rights, supported tort reform, and advocated for conservative budget and pro-business initiatives. She has a strong conservative voting record, a 100 percent pro-life rating, and is a lifetime member of the NRA.
As Commissioner of Agriculture, Cindy worked to ensure fairness and equity in the marketplace and protect Mississippians through enacting reasonable regulatory practices. She made a commitment to support Mississippi’s farmers and ranchers so they could continue to provide safe food and fiber at the most affordable prices, while maintaining the utmost in consumer confidence. Under her leadership, the agency was recognized as a “model agency” for effectiveness, and she held agency spending below one percent growth over her entire tenure.
As U.S. Senator, Cindy has received the Spirit of Enterprise Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Award for Conservative Achievement from the American Conservative Union Foundation. She also received numerous awards and honors for her work as a state legislator and champion of agriculture, including the highest grade for a strong pro-business and fiscally conservative voting record from the Business and Industry Political Education Committee.
Additionally, Hyde-Smith has received the Agriculture Legislator of the Year Award from the Mississippi Association of Conservation Districts, the Ambassador Award from the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, the Achievement Award from Delta Council, and the Outstanding Service to Small Farmers Award from Alcorn State University. In 2013, Cindy was also the recipient of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation’s Distinguished Service Award. The award is the highest honor Farm Bureau bestows on an individual, and it is reserved for someone who has truly made a difference in the lives of Mississippi farmers.
Cindy is a graduate of Copiah-Lincoln Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi and maintains close affiliations with the Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association, Lincoln County Forestry Association, Lincoln County Livestock Association, and the Mississippi Nursery and Landscape Association.
Cindy and her husband Mike have a daughter, Anna-Michael, the family’s fifth-generation farmer. They raise beef cattle and are partners in Lincoln County Livestock, the local stockyard auction market in Brookhaven. She and her family currently reside in Brookhaven and are active members of Macedonia Baptist Church.
Members of the Senate are responsible for introducing and voting on federal legislation, representing their state, and providing a check on executive power. Key powers include confirming presidential appointments, ratifying treaties, serving on committees, shaping the federal budget, and conducting impeachment trials. Each senator serves a six-year term and represents their entire state.