Scott Colom and Cory Booker (Photos from their Facebook pages)
- The New Jersey U.S. Senator came to Mississippi in 2018 to help rally voters for Mike Espy. Republican U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith defeated Espy by nearly 8 points in that race. Now, Booker’s coming back to the Magnolia State, this time to back fellow Democrat Scott Colom.
New Jersey U.S. Senator Cory Booker is coming to the Mississippi Coast this Friday to campaign with Democrat nominee Scott Colom.
Colom is hoping to upset heavily favored incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith in the November 3 General Election.
Colom announced Booker’s appearance in Gulfport on Wednesday evening, saying, “Y’all, I’m excited to announce we are officially launching Canvass with Colom this Friday, October 2nd, on the Gulf Coast — and my friend Senator Cory Booker is headed down to kick things off with us!”
Redistricting in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Callais decision and advocating for black representation could be among the narratives cultivated by Booker and Colom during the Mississippi visit as MS NOW reported in June that Booker was “steering six figures from his political operation toward defending Black representation in the South.”
“The money, first reported by MS NOW, will go to Black lawmakers targeted by new GOP maps, Southern state Democratic parties and allied groups, according to an aide,” the outlet reported.
“The Supreme Court makes rulings, but the American people can make movements, and the midterms must now be a movement election to defend Black representation and stand up for the principles of our democracy,” Booker said in a statement, per MS NOW.
An aide for Booker told MS NOW that “help from Booker’s orbit is going toward the state Democratic parties for seven states (Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Missouri, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee), the House Democrats’ campaign arm and other outside groups, as well incumbents affected by redistricting this cycle, including candidates from North Carolina, Missouri, Alabama and Louisiana.”
Booker’s Been to Mississippi Before
It is not the first time Booker has waded into a Mississippi Senate race against Hyde-Smith.
In 2018, the New Jersey Democrat campaigned alongside Democrat Mike Espy in the special election to replace Senator Thad Cochran who stepped down.
Booker’s Mississippi stops six years ago included the Two Mississippi Museums and the University of Southern Mississippi where he and Espy sought to rally voters to their cause.
Booker said of the 2018 Senate race that “of all the races that are going on right now, none will be more of a game changer than this Senate race right here.” Espy noted the need for “Obama-level turnout numbers” if he had a chance to win.
Hyde-Smith ultimately won the special election in a runoff by nearly 8 points, before defeating Espy again two years later by 10 points.
Healthcare could also be among the talking points shared by Booker and Colom in this 2026 midterm cycle when he visits the Magnolia State again, just as it was promoted by Booker and Espy in 2018. Colom has made the issue one of the central focuses of his platform.
Colom will face Hyde-Smith along with independent candidate Ty Pinkins on the November 3 ballot. Absentee voting is currently underway.
