The race to fill the Mississippi seat in the U.S. Senate left open by the retirement of longtime Sen. Thad Cochran has already become anything but civil.

And qualifying just ended on Tuesday.

Lines are being drawn and the gloves are being ripped off.

Although the special election is supposed to be non-partisan — the candidates’ political party of choice will not be on the ballot — the partisan mud slinging has already begun in earnest.

This week, ads paid for by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are supportive of appointed Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and highly critical of challenger and state Sen. Chris McDaniel.

The ads attacking McDaniel paint him to be a money-hungry trial lawyer, who made money suing Mississippi businesses.

McDaniel disputes the claim and suggests the ads simply show that Hyde-Smith will be beholden to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce if elected.

McDaniel scoffed that he did not need the support of established entities or their “filthy money.”

With five candidates in the race and more than six months left to go before the Nov. 6 election, we fear this is going to be a long, ugly race.

That said, we hope and pray all of the candidates and their supporters will focus on the issues facing Mississippi and our country and not on bashing one another’s pasts.