‘Mississippi Matters’: Scott Colom promises lower costs, higher wages at rally with Sen. Warnock

"Together on November 3, we are going to write the best chapter in our state's history," Colom said. "We are going to write a chapter that understands that Mississippi kids have to matter. That Mississippi schools have to matter. That Mississippi's hospitals and healthcare have to matter. And last but not least, that Mississippi's future has to matter." 

Colom was elected DA in 2015, unseating 27-year incumbent Forrest Allgood. He closed a record number of cold cases and won 94% of his trials in the role. 

Colom, who's running on a platform of higher wages, lower costs to families and affordable healthcare, faces incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith and independent Ty Pinkins in the Nov. 3 election. 

During campaigning, Colom has visited 78 of the 82 Mississippi counties, he said. On Oct. 1, he stumped in Gulfport, Mississippi, with Sen.Cory Booker, D-New Jersey. 

Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Georgia, joined Colom on the campaign trail on Oct. 14, meeting with faith leaders earlier in the day and addressing the crowd at the rally. He joins a host of Democratic leaders, such as former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris, who have now offered support to Colom and his U.S. Senate bid. 

"I am here because I am tired of the South being overlooked or diminished in terms of its electoral importance," Warnock said during an interview before the rally. "We ignore the South at our own peril. Democrats are investing here. I would like to see more, for the sake of the country."

Sonja McCaskill drove to Jackson from Petal, Mississippi, just under two hours away, to attend the rally. She said she feels that Colom will be the right representative that the state hasn't had before. 

"I feel like he has a real chance to beat Cindy Hyde-Smith and give us a voice in Mississippi, and we need that so desperately," McCaskill said. 

McCaskill is retired and has a mother who lives in a long-term care facility. For her, lowering healthcare premiums, saving rural hospitals and expanding Medicaid are top priorities. 

"We have so many people who … are close to poverty or in poverty who need healthcare," she said. "Rural hospitals might be closing. I'm from a small town, so one of the hospitals back in my hometown is probably going to be one of those that gets closed." 

The cost of health insurance is also a key deciding factor for Indianola resident Kathy Allen when choosing a candidate. 

"I had an unexpected health issue that I happened to be working somewhere and had health insurance for the first time in like 30 years, two years ago, and that got me through, so the cost is very important to me," Allen said.  

Allen, who identifies as an independent, said she finds herself agreeing with many Democratic platforms, particularly when it comes to women's rights and immigration. She said she can't see herself agreeing with the Republican Party when it comes to policy, and that it's not the party her parents voted for and she grew up on. 

"We want people who can represent our real issues, not talking gibberish and not addressing those issues," she said. "I hope people can begin to see the light on that." 

Former Vice President Kamala Harris will be in Columbus, Mississippi, on Oct. 22 to campaign with Colom. Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will also campaign with Colom in Gulf Coast cities on Oct. 27.

Maya Miller is a Report for America corps member covering democracy and government for the Gulf States Newsroom. This story was produced by the Gulf States Newsroom, a collaboration between Mississippi Public Broadcasting, WBHM in Alabama, WWNO and WRKF in Louisiana and NPR.