News Cindy Hyde-Smith defeats Democrat Mike Espy, becomes first Mississippi woman elected to Congress November 27, 2018November 28, 2018Deborah Barfield Berry, USA TODAYComments Off on Cindy Hyde-Smith defeats Democrat Mike Espy, becomes first Mississippi woman elected to Congress GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith turned back a challenge from Democrat Mike Espy and made history as the first woman elected to Congress from Mississippi.