Maryland Senator Angela Alsobrooks will campaign with Mississippi Democrat Scott Colom on Saturday, marking a rare appearance by a sitting U.S. senator in the state. The event is part of Colom’s effort to unseat Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith in the upcoming midterm elections.
Alsobrooks, a Democrat, will participate in two public events in Jackson, focusing on maternal health, rural healthcare, and voting rights. Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson is also scheduled to attend the second event, a town hall at Farish Street Baptist Church.
Colom, who has received support from more than 30 Democratic senators, has tried to distance himself from the party’s progressive wing. Campaigning alongside Alsobrooks signals a strategic move amid a competitive political climate ahead of November.
Alsobrooks, a former state’s attorney and county executive, defeated Maryland’s former Republican governor Larry Hogan in 2024 to win her first U.S. Senate term. Her platform includes support for abortion rights, Medicaid expansion, and transgender equality—positions that may conflict with Mississippi voters’ views.
The senator supports federal legal protections for abortion access and opposes efforts to defund Planned Parenthood. Her stance on Medicaid aligns with her goal to expand coverage nationwide, despite Mississippi’s decision not to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. She also advocates for protecting transgender rights amid ongoing legislative restrictions in Mississippi, such as bans on gender-affirming care for minors and restrictions on female sports participation.
Colom’s positions on issues like law enforcement, gun control, and minimum wage differ from many voters in Mississippi. He has opposed agreements between local law enforcement and immigration authorities, supports universal background checks, and advocates for raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour.
The campaign events underscore the ideological differences and political strategies shaping Mississippi’s Senate race, which remains highly competitive as the midterms approach.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
