Trump to Rally in Salina, Kansas, After Mississippi Stop

President Donald Trump held a rally in Corinth, Mississippi, on Monday to support Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, marking the start of a weeklong campaign tour. Trump, whose voice sounded hoarse to the crowd, stated he was present to ensure Hyde-Smith wins against Democrat Scott Colom. The race has become competitive despite Mississippi’s historical support for Republican candidates. Trump said, “I’m here because Cindy’s doing great, but I just got to make sure. I can’t take a chance.”

Colom was present at the rally site, creating a rare interaction between the president and his Democratic opponent. Colom, a local prosecutor, told reporters before Trump arrived that voters deserve a senator who listens to their concerns. He noted, “They actually deserve a senator that will listen to them, that actually cares about what they think, actually cares about what they’re going through.” The contest is part of a wider trend where Democratic candidates have narrowed margins in traditionally Republican areas due to voter dissatisfaction with inflation and the Iran war.

Trump’s schedule includes stops in Texas, South Carolina, and Iowa, where he also won comfortably in the 2024 presidential election. Officials announced late Monday that Trump will hold another rally in Salina, Kansas, on Saturday. This will be his second visit to the state in under two weeks. Vice President JD Vance also campaigned in Kansas on Monday, speaking to hundreds of people at a steel-fabricating warehouse in north Topeka to support Senator Roger Marshall.

Marshall faces Democrat Adam Hamilton in a tight Senate race in a state where Democrats have not won since 1932. Marshall told the crowd that Democrats are campaigning as if it is a presidential year. “Democrats are coming out like it’s a presidential year,” Marshall said. He urged Republicans to match that energy. Jace Sullivan, a 50-year-old electrician from Topeka, told reporters that gas prices are high but part of a necessary strategy regarding Iran. “Gas prices are high and it does suck, but it’s a means to an end,” Sullivan said.

Democratic efforts are also intensifying. Former Vice President Kamala Harris campaigned in Wisconsin with Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who is running for governor against Republican Tom Tiffany. Harris described the race as tight due to high stakes. In Michigan, Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed distanced himself from a political ad by Rebellion PAC that linked grocery prices to U.S. support for Israel. A spokesperson for El-Sayed, Roxie Richner, said the ad was not affiliated with his campaign. Representative Haley Stevens, who lost the primary to El-Sayed, criticized the ad on social media.

Senator Tim Scott, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told the Associated Press on Monday that Republican candidates are closing strongly in races across the country. He cited Trump’s time on the trail as a reason for the party’s position. Scott made the comments during a fundraising event for Representative Russell Fry in South Carolina. Trump is scheduled to visit South Carolina again within two weeks to support Senator Darline Graham. The midterm elections could shift control of the House and Senate, as well as state governments, depending on the results of these tight contests.

In New York, Representative Mike Lawler, a Republican in a close race against Democrat Cait Conley, worked a McDonald’s drive-thru window. Lawler has tried to emphasize his independence from the president while using a tactic Trump employed in a previous election. More than 30 million voters have already cast ballots nationwide, according to Associated Press data collected from election administrators. The campaign season continues with key events scheduled through the end of the month.