President Donald Trump visited Corinth, Mississippi, on Monday to rally support for incumbent Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde‑Smith ahead of the November 2026 Senate election. Trump urged voters to “pretend” he is on the ballot, noting that his presence typically boosts turnout by roughly half again.
Democratic spending surge
National Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have reserved $1.2 million in advertising for the state through the Senate Majority PAC. The money is aimed at boosting district attorney Scott Colom, the Democratic challenger, who is attempting to break a 44‑year Republican hold on Mississippi’s Senate seat.
High‑profile Democrats, including former Vice President Kamala Harris and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, have also visited Mississippi or scheduled events, such as a rally on the Gulf Coast.
Republican response
The Senate Leadership Fund, aligned with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, has countered with a seven‑figure ad buy to defend Hyde‑Smith. Local GOP operatives dismissed the Democratic push as a last‑ditch effort, with one describing it as “throwing s— at the wall.”
Hyde‑Smith’s campaign manager, Jake Monssen, said the influx of Washington‑based funding was an attempt to revive a “failing campaign.” He criticized Colom for supporting tax increases, open borders, benefits for illegal immigrants, and pediatric gender treatments.
Colom’s ground game
Colom argues his grassroots operation, built before the national surge, could be decisive. He claimed the people of Mississippi have built his campaign and that increased resources now allow him to expand momentum.
He also highlighted local concerns such as gas and grocery prices, and tariffs, echoing themes from Trump’s recent rally.
Demographic dynamics
Mississippi’s electorate includes the nation’s highest proportion of Black voters, nearly 40 % of the voting‑age population. Political scientist Jonathan Klingler of the University of Mississippi noted that for Democrats to win, they must also win a larger share of white voters.
Both candidates have a history dating back to the Biden administration, when Hyde‑Smith blocked Colom’s nomination to a district court judgeship.
Local perspective
Colom, a practicing Christian, said he forgives Hyde‑Smith for past disputes but emphasized his motivation is the perceived betrayal of the America First movement, which he says Hyde‑Smith abandoned by not delivering lower grocery prices.
The race remains the only Senate contest in the Deep South where Democrats have mounted a serious challenge in decades, and the outcome will be watched as a bellwether for the broader national political climate.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
