U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Scott Colom on Tuesday called for Black Mississippi voters to turn out in November’s midterm elections to fight back against President Donald Trump’s agenda and an expected effort from state leaders to redraw electoral maps in Repub licans’ favor. At a “Power in the Pews” luncheon in Jackson organized by the NAACP, the candidates spoke to a packed room at the Hilton Jackson filled with hundreds of attendees alongside faith leaders, political organizers and Democratic officials. Churches have long been an engine of political organizing for Black voters in Mississippi and across the Deep South. NAACP workers at the event handed out informational packets on voter engagement and urged attendees to consult their local churches for information on how to get involved. Thompson called such efforts a blueprint for turning out Black voters in Mississippi. Thompson and Colom warned about what they said were threats to voting rights and Black representation posed by Trump and Republican state officials. Colom, who is gearing up for the final stages of a general election campaign against incumbent Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, also took the opportunity to sharpen his closing attacks on Mississippi’s junior senator, whom he labeled “Cindy High Prices.” “Our junior senator cares more about what her MAGA daddy says than what’s best for Mississippi,” Colom said. Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate Scott Colom speaks at the “Power in the Pews” faith leadership luncheon Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, at the Hilton Jackson. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today Colom, who also faces independent Ty Pinkins in the general election, criticized Hyde-Smith for voting for the “Big Beautiful Bill” act and supporting President Trump’s tariffs, which he has said raised prices of consumer goods across the economy. He also accused Hyde-Smith of using political donations for personal travel, such as billing trips to Las Vegas to her campaign account. “Not only is she allowing the corruption, not only is she remaining silent, she’s partaking in it,” Colom said. In a statement, Jake Monssen, Hyde-Smith’s campaign manager, disputed Colom’s remarks. “Scott Colom started lying to voters about Sen. Hyde-Smith on the very first day of his campaign,” Monssen said. “We shouldn’t be surprised to see him double down on that tactic.” Thompson, the only Democrat and only Black member of Mississippi’s congressional delegation, noted the size of the crowd that came out on a Tuesday afternoon. The turnout could be traced to Trump’s unique ability to unite Black voters in opposition, he said. “Now let me tell you what’s making this happen. It’s that fella in the White House,” Thompson said. “This man has done more to get Black folks together in America than Martin Luther King could have ever done” If Democrats reclaim a majority in the U.S. House this November, six Black members could become committee chairmen, Thompson told the crowd. “There’s nothing like being in the room, in charge,” he added. Thompson faces Republican Ron Eller and independent Bennie Foster this November. Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the Louisiana Callais redistricting case in May, which weakened the Voting Rights Act, Thompson has been the target of calls from Gov. Tate Reeves and Republican state legislators to redraw Mississippi’s electoral maps. A legislative joint committee is holding public hearings across the state, and the full Legislature is expected to convene in a special session this fall to redraw at least state legislative maps. That wouldn’t impact this November’s federal election, but Mississippi lawmakers are likely to target Thompson’s seat with redistricting before he’s up for reelection again in 2028. Colom called the Callais decision “a threat to our democracy” the country hasn’t seen in decades. “(Gov. Tate Reeves) is going to try to draw lines that prevent the people in this room from being able to pick leaders they want. He wants to pick your leaders for y’all,” Colom said. “He doesn’t want Cindy High Prices to have to compete for votes, because they won’t to have to answer for these terrible policies.” Charles Taylor, Mississippi’s NAACP executive director, said his organization has been meeting with Black circuit clerks and election commissioners to discuss “election security” and that organizers will “turn out Black folks in droves.” “The eyes of the country have been on Mississippi this year, and it’s because of the work we’ve been doing day in and day out,” Taylor said. “The election in November is crucially important because it has been a long time since they have tried to roll back our rights like this.” ...read more read less