Mississippi Senate race sharpens as Trump stumps for GOP and Democrats boost spending
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President Trump and incumbent Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith campaigned in Mississippi ahead of a closely watched Senate contest, while Democratic candidate Scott Colom and national Democrats have poured millions into the race, arguing that Black voter turnout could be decisive in a state shaped by entrenched Republican power.
President Donald Trump traveled to Mississippi on Monday to rally support for incumbent Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, using the visit to mobilize voters and to denounce what he called the "radical socialist" policies of Democratic challenger Scott Colom. Hyde-Smith’s campaign manager Jake Monssen said the two share a strong working relationship and framed the election as a stark ideological battle between "socialism versus capitalism" and "communism versus democracy," language that underscores how aggressively the campaign is trying to inflame partisan fears.
Colom, the Democratic nominee and district attorney, has pointed to the Republican Party’s long record of underinvesting in the state, arguing that national Democrats have spent roughly $5 million on the race compared with $3.2 million from Republicans. He said higher Black voter turnout could make the contest competitive, even in Mississippi’s deeply entrenched Republican landscape, where structural advantages have long shaped the outcome.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris attended a rally for Colom in his hometown, describing the current administration as "the most callous, corrupt and incompetent presidential administration we have ever experienced" and urging voters to turn anger into action before the November 3 election.
Both campaigns have emphasized the stakes of the race. Hyde-Smith reiterated that endorsements do not win elections, only votes do, while Trump warned that complacency could put the Republican hold on the seat at risk.
Political analysts note that Mississippi’s electorate, which includes the nation’s highest proportion of Black voters at about 40 percent, could play a decisive role. The race also reflects broader struggles over voting rights and redistricting in Southern states after recent Supreme Court decisions.