Trump campaigns in Mississippi amid rising gas prices and tight Senate race

President Donald Trump campaigned in Corinth, Mississippi, on Monday, speaking with an audibly hoarse voice to support Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. The stop marks the start of an intensive week of campaigning for the president as midterm elections approach.

Hyde-Smith is facing a challenging race against Democrat Scott Colom, a local prosecutor who is running for the Senate for the first time. Trump told the crowd he was present to ensure Hyde-Smith’s position, saying he could not take a chance. Colom was also present at the rally site, where he spoke to supporters before the president arrived.

Colom stated that Mississippi voters deserve a senator who listens to their concerns about inflation and their daily lives. He noted that the current administration’s handling of the economy and the war with Iran has left many voters dissatisfied. The presence of the Democratic challenger at a major Republican rally highlighted the unusual nature of this contest in a state that has been reliably Republican for decades.

Mississippi is one of the most solidly Republican states in the nation, with Trump winning it by an average of nearly 20 percentage points in the past three elections. Despite this historical margin, the race has become competitive due to voter discontent over high gas prices and other economic factors. Senate Democrats’ super PAC has invested $1.2 million in the contest, a late entry in the race.

Trump plans to visit several other states this week, including Texas, South Carolina, Iowa, and Kansas. Officials announced late Monday that he will hold a second rally in Salina, Kansas, in less than two weeks. In Kansas, Vice President JD Vance is campaigning for Sen. Roger Marshall, who is in a tight contest with Democrat Adam Hamilton. Marshall told a crowd in Topeka that Democrats are campaigning as if it were a presidential year, urging Republicans to match that energy.

In other parts of the country, Democratic candidates are also active. Former Vice President Kamala Harris campaigned in Wisconsin with Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who is running for governor. In Michigan, Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed distanced himself from an advertisement 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, while Rep. Haley Stevens criticized the spot for its messaging.

Sen. Tim Scott, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told The Associated Press on Monday that GOP candidates are closing strongly in races across the country. He cited Trump’s time and energy on the campaign trail as a key factor in maintaining the party’s majority. In New York, Rep. Mike Lawler worked a McDonald’s drive-thru, a tactic mimicking a similar event Trump attended two years ago, as he seeks to connect with voters in his tight congressional race.