Former Vice President Kamala Harris made a prominent appearance in Columbus, Mississippi, on Thursday night, rallying support for Democratic Senate nominee Scott Colom as he seeks to make history in the deeply red state. The event marked one of Harris’s first major public rallies ahead of a potential 2028 presidential run, signaling renewed political activity for the former vice president.
More than 1,000 people gathered at the Columbus High School gymnasium, with attendees waiting in long lines and going through metal detectors before what resembled a high-energy pep rally. Harris emphasized Mississippi’s significance in the broader political landscape, urging voters to support Colom, the district attorney for Lowndes County, who aims to become the state’s first Democratic senator in roughly 40 years and the first Black statewide elected official since the Reconstruction era.
Colom faces incumbent Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith in a race that has gained heightened national attention and financial investment from both parties. Earlier this month, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report revised its rating of the contest, moving it from “Solid Republican” to “Likely Republican,” reflecting Democrats’ cautious optimism. The Senate Majority PAC has committed $1.2 million in advertising to bolster Colom’s campaign, while Senate Republicans’ principal super PAC, the Senate Leadership Fund, plans to spend over $1 million supporting Hyde-Smith.
Harris portrayed Colom as a trusted figure deeply rooted in the community, contrasting him with Hyde-Smith. She criticized the Republican senator for comments suggesting that Mississippians could simply choose alternative protein sources if beef prices were high, using the remark to highlight perceptions of insensitivity. Harris also linked Hyde-Smith to former President Donald Trump without naming him, condemning the current administration as “callous, corrupt and incompetent.”
“We are witnessing the most callous, corrupt and incompetent presidential administration in American history,” Harris told the crowd, drawing enthusiastic responses. She recounted frustrations felt by many voters over the past year and a half, acknowledging the political challenges Democrats face heading into the midterm elections.
Harris’s rallying efforts come after a relatively quiet summer. In recent weeks, she has increased her public appearances, including an event with Nevada gubernatorial candidate Aaron Ford and a roundtable with Michigan Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed. She also has scheduled upcoming stops in New Hampshire and Georgia. Harris has indicated she is considering a 2028 presidential run, a prospect that has elicited mixed reactions within the Democratic Party. Some party members express reservations due to her 2024 election loss and perceived continued association with the Biden administration, whose policies on the economy and immigration have faced criticism. However, Harris’s historic achievements as the first Black woman and first South Asian vice president bolster her appeal among key Democratic constituencies, particularly Black women voters.
Supporters at the rally expressed strong enthusiasm for Harris. Katina Pickens, a Black high school administrator, said she voted for Harris in 2024 and plans to do so again, describing her as “a great leader” poised for future success despite skepticism from some quarters.
Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith dismissed Colom’s alliance with Harris, accusing him of being “completely beholden to the far left and the failed policies of the Biden-Harris administration,” which she blamed for high inflation and increased border security issues. Hyde-Smith’s campaign remains aligned with former President Trump, who is scheduled to campaign with her next week.
As the Mississippi Senate race intensifies, both parties are deploying prominent figures and significant resources, transforming what was once considered a safely Republican seat into a competitive battleground with national implications.