Trump campaigns in Corinth to support Hyde-Smith amid stiff Democratic challenge

President Donald Trump campaigned in Corinth, Mississippi, on Monday, joining a closing blitz of midterm rallies intended to shore up Republican candidates facing unexpected challenges. His appearance aimed to boost Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, who is vying for her second full term against Democrat Scott Colom. Trump told the crowd his voice was hoarse but insisted he needed to be present to ensure the outcome.

Colom, a local prosecutor, was present at the rally site. He engaged directly with Trump supporters before the president took the stage. Colom stated that voters deserve a senator who listens to their concerns and cares about their daily struggles. He characterized his campaign as a response to widespread voter discontent over inflation and the Iran war.

Mississippi is one of the nation's most reliably Republican states, yet the race has drawn national attention. Hyde-Smith remains the favorite in a state Trump won three times by an average of nearly 20 percentage points. However, Colom is attempting to parry the president's lagging popularity and his opponent's mistakes into an upset. If elected, Colom would become Mississippi's first Black senator since the Reconstruction era.

Senate Democrats' super PAC has invested $1.2 million in the contest as a late entry. Mississippians have not chosen a new Democratic senator since 1947. The last Democratic victory in a Senate race in the state occurred in 1982, when John Stennis won his final reelection.

Trump's event initiates a week of aggressive campaigning in states he won comfortably in 2024, including Texas, South Carolina, and Iowa. Officials announced late Monday that Trump also plans a rally in Salina, Kansas, on Saturday. This would be his second visit to Kansas in less than two weeks.

Vice President JD Vance returned to Kansas to campaign for Sen. Roger Marshall, who is in a tight contest with Democrat Adam Hamilton. Marshall addressed a crowd in a warehouse in north Topeka, noting that Democrats have not won a Senate race in the state since 1932. He told the audience that the president is effectively on the ballot because Democrats will thwart his agenda if they gain control of Congress.

In Wisconsin, former Vice President Kamala Harris campaigned with Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. Harris described the governor's race as tight because the stakes are high. In Michigan, Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed distanced himself from an ad created by Rebellion PAC that blamed high grocery prices on U.S. support for Israel. A spokesperson for El-Sayed said the ad was not affiliated with his campaign.

Sen. Tim Scott, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told The Associated Press that GOP candidates are closing strongly in races across the country. He cited Trump's time and energy on the trail as a reason the party will maintain a majority in the Senate.