Trump Campaigns in Corinth to Aid Hyde-Smith Amid Tight Senate Race

President Donald Trump addressed a crowd in Corinth, Mississippi, on Monday to support Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith. He spoke with an audibly hoarse voice and told supporters he was present to ensure her success. Hyde-Smith is facing a competitive challenge from Democrat Scott Colom, a local prosecutor. Trump stated he was there because Hyde-Smith was doing well, but he wanted to make certain she won.

Colom attended the rally site and spoke with Trump supporters before the president arrived. Colom described himself as a candidate who would listen to voters and care about their experiences. He later described himself as a Marxist radical and a fake moderate, a characterization Trump made from the stage after Colom left the immediate vicinity of the event.

Mississippi is one of the most reliably Republican states in the nation. However, voter discontent regarding inflation and the Iran war has expanded the number of battleground races. Trump’s visit marks the start of a week of aggressive campaigning. He is scheduled to visit Texas, South Carolina, and Iowa, all states he won comfortably in 2024. Officials announced late Monday that Trump will also hold a rally in Salina, Kansas, on Saturday. This will be his second visit to that state in less than two weeks.

Democratic candidates are also increasing their campaigning efforts. Former Vice President Kamala Harris campaigned in Wisconsin with Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. Harris called the race for governor tight because the stakes are high. In Michigan, Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed distanced his campaign from an ad produced by Rebellion PAC. The ad blames high grocery prices on U.S. support for Israel. A spokesperson for El-Sayed said the ad was not affiliated with his campaign.

Vice President JD Vance campaigned in north Topeka, Kansas, for Senator Roger Marshall. Marshall is in a tight contest with Democrat Adam Hamilton. Marshall told the crowd that Democrats were campaigning as if it were a presidential year. He said Trump’s name was effectively on the ballot because Democrats would thwart his agenda if they took control of Congress. Vance also campaigned in Belgrade, Montana, with Aaron Flint and Kurt Alme.

Hyde-Smith remains the favorite in Mississippi, where Trump won the previous three presidential elections by an average of nearly 20 percentage points. Colom is seeking to become Mississippi’s first Black senator since post-Civil War Reconstruction. Senate Democrats have invested $1.2 million in the race through a super PAC. Mississippians have not elected a new Democratic senator since 1947.

Senator Tim Scott, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told the Associated Press on Monday that Republican candidates are closing strongly in races across the country. He cited Trump’s time and energy on the campaign trail as a reason for the party’s potential majority. In New York, Representative Mike Lawler manned a McDonald’s drive-thru to connect with voters. Lawler is in a tight race with Democrat Cait Conley in the city’s northern suburbs.