1.2 Million: Democrats pour late cash into Mississippi Senate race as Trump arrives

President Donald Trump arrived in Mississippi on Monday to kick off a final week of campaigning ahead of the midterm elections.

The visit places the president in a state he has won three times by an average margin of nearly 20 percentage points. Mississippi is typically a safe Republican stronghold, but the 2026 race for Senate has drawn intense national attention.

Hyde-Smith, who is seeking a second full term, faces a tough challenge from Scott Colom. Colom is a local prosecutor who would become the state's first Black senator since the post-Civil War Reconstruction era. He has outpaced Hyde-Smith in fundraising since launching his campaign last year.

Colom gained national attention this month with a television ad targeting Hyde-Smith's comments on beef prices. The ad features Hyde-Smith, a former state agriculture commissioner, telling consumers they have other proteins to choose from. That line references higher costs driven by Trump's tariffs and fuel spikes from the Iran war. Colom then appears on screen urging voters to pick another senator.

The Democrat's campaign followed the ad with a social media video featuring an AI-generated Hyde-Smith dodging questions. The campaign removed the clip after the Mississippi attorney general stated it could violate state laws banning deepfakes close to Election Day.

Senate Democrats' super PAC has invested $1.2 million in the contest. While that sum is small compared to races in larger states like Texas or Georgia, it has a substantial reach in Mississippi's smaller television markets.

Trump's itinerary this week pits him against former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris is campaigning in Wisconsin with Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. Crowley is running against Rep. Tom Tiffany for governor and would be the state's first Black governor if elected.

In Georgia, Democratic Senate nominee Jon Ossoff and gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms are receiving support from Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. Beshear chairs the Democratic Governors' Association and is a likely 2028 presidential candidate. He is visiting two days after Trump's second October stop in that state.

Minnesota is also a focal point for Democratic efforts to highlight economic struggles. Senate nominee Peggy Flanagan, the current lieutenant governor, is hosting House Progressive Caucus Chairwoman Pramila Jayapal. The two are advocating for a national health insurance plan to achieve universal coverage.

House Democrats are expanding their spending in districts that were previously considered solid Republican territory. The House Majority PAC announced nearly $2.5 million in new spending in Minnesota and Indiana. One Minnesota target is a rural district that has been reliably Republican for generations, except during the time Tim Walz represented it.

Republicans currently hold a 53-47 Senate majority. Democrats must flip at least four seats to take control of the chamber. In the House, Republicans began the cycle with a 220-215 advantage. A gerrymandering dispute adjusted nine seats to be friendlier to Republicans based on 2024 presidential outcomes.

Approximately 30 million voters have already cast ballots. Hyde-Smith remains the favorite in Mississippi, but Colom is leveraging inflation and Trump's lagging popularity to push for an upset. The race concludes with votes being tallied next week.