MISSISSIPPI: Gov Appoints Ag Commissioner To Fill US Senate Seat Vacated By Retiring Sen. Thad Cochran

Roll Call reports:

Mississippi Agriculture and Commerce Commissioner Cindy Hyde-Smith will be coming to the U.S. Senate next month. GOP Gov. Phil Bryant formally tapped the Republican former state senator to fill the unexpired term of Senate Appropriations Chairman Thad Cochran, who is poised to go out with a win on an omnibus spending bill before resigning effective April 1.

Hyde-Smith spoke following Bryant’s announcement in her hometown of Brookhaven on Wednesday afternoon. She highlighted her work as agriculture commissioner, while praising President Donald Trump’s work on rolling back regulations, making specific reference to the Waters of the United States rule.

If she decides to run to hold the seat in November, Hyde-Smith would face far-right state Sen. Chris McDaniel.