JACKSON, Miss. — Democrat Ty Pinkins has taken to jogging along Mississippi’s highways and through cotton fields to draw attention to his campaign aimed at defeating the state’s senior Republican U.S. senator, Roger Wicker.
Pinkins, 50, is fully aware that this will be an uphill battle. Mississippi, a state heavily influenced by the Republican Party, has not seen a Democrat elected to the Senate since John C. Stennis stepped down in 1989. Financial support for Pinkins has been sparse from national Democratic entities, and the most prominent Democrat in the state, U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, has chosen not to participate in the Senate race.
Having previously run for the position of secretary of state in Mississippi without success, Pinkins points to his own life experiences as a valuable asset in understanding the economic struggles faced by many residents in one of the nation’s poorest states. Raised in the Delta town of Rolling Fork, he achieved the milestone of being the first in his family to earn a high school diploma and a college degree. He boasts a background as a military veteran, lawyer, and community activist.
“I’m running for every Mississippian who feels marginalized or overlooked,” Pinkins stated in a campaign video, noting that he has jogged approximately 900 miles to generate awareness for his cause. “For those advocating for women’s reproductive rights, I stand with you. For those striving for a fairer economy for all citizens of Mississippi, I am here for you.”
In stark contrast, Wicker has amassed around $9.5 million for his campaign, spending approximately $7.7 million, while Pinkins has raised roughly $919,000 and expended about $901,000 according to their latest financial reports as of mid-October.
At 73, Wicker is also a veteran and a lawyer. His political journey began in the state Senate before he secured a U.S. House seat in 1994. Following the resignation of Republican Sen. Trent Lott in 2007, Wicker was appointed by then-Gov. Haley Barbour to fill the vacancy.
Wicker currently serves as the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, focusing on the expansion of military shipbuilding. He articulated plans to advocate for increased military resources should Republicans take control of the Senate, likening his approach to that of former President Ronald Reagan’s initiatives in the 1980s.
“Peace will prevail because no aggressor, be it Russia or anyone else, will dare to confront a nation of such strength,” Wicker remarked to a large audience at the Hobnob Mississippi event in Jackson. “My primary objective is to achieve peace through strength.”
While Pinkins is vocal about his support for abortion rights, Wicker has endorsed the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, which had previously legalized abortion on a national level.
Pinkins, during a recent speech, shared insights from his three tours of combat duty, highlighting virtues such as loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and courage. He expressed concern that these qualities have been increasingly rare in Congress, particularly following the tumultuous events of January 6.
“Above all else, personal courage is what’s lacking in Washington,” Pinkins concluded.