Trump Rallies in Mississippi to Defend Hyde-Smith Amid Midterm Push
The president arrives in Corinth to support the incumbent against a prosecutor leading in fundraising, while Democrats spend millions in key swing states.
By Andrew Yang ·
President Donald Trump arrives in Corinth, Mississippi, on Monday to rally behind Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. The visit marks the latest stop in a closing campaign sprint for Republicans, who face tight races in states they previously considered safe.
Hyde-Smith, seeking a second full term, faces a challenge from Scott Colom, a local prosecutor. Colom has raised more money than the incumbent since launching his campaign last year. He aims to become Mississippi's first Black senator since the post-Civil War Reconstruction era.
The race has intensified over the past month. Colom released an ad featuring Hyde-Smith, a former state agriculture commissioner, saying consumers have "so many other proteins to choose from" regarding high beef prices. Those prices rose due to tariffs and fuel costs linked to the Iran war. The ad ends with Colom urging voters to pick another senator.
Colom's campaign later posted an AI-generated video of Hyde-Smith dodging questions on that issue. The team removed the clip after the Mississippi attorney general warned it might violate state laws on deepfakes near Election Day. Senate Democrats' super PAC also entered the race late with a $1.2 million investment, a sum that carries more weight in Mississippi's smaller media markets.
While Trump travels, other candidates campaign in battleground states. Kamala Harris campaigns in Wisconsin with Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who runs for governor against Rep. Tom Tiffany. In Georgia, former Vice President Joe Biden's 2024 running mate is not present, but Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear supports Sen. Jon Ossoff and gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms. In Minnesota, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan hosts House Progressive Caucus Chairwoman Pramila Jayapal to promote universal health coverage.
House Democrats are spending heavily in solid Republican districts. The House Majority PAC announced $2.5 million in new spending in Minnesota and Indiana. The Minnesota target is a rural district that voted Republican for generations, though Tim Walz represented it during his time in Congress.
The midterm election will determine control of both chambers of Congress. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate and a 220-215 lead in the House. Democrats need to flip at least four Senate seats to take control. Nearly 30 million voters have already cast ballots in this cycle.
