U.S. Senate candidates speak at Mississippi Economic Council’s annual Hobnob event

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Both incumbent Republican Senator Roger Wicker and his Democratic challenger Ty Pinkins are making their final moves on the campaign trail. They took the stage at the Mississippi Economic Council’s annual Hobnob event.

Pinkins disagrees with Wicker’s support of Donald Trump and says he lacks personal courage.

“Mississippi deserves better,” Pinkins said of Wicker. “The current leadership in Washington has failed us. He forgot the Mississippians. He has failed the people of Mississippi, and he has failed to live up to the promise he made when he swore to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”

Wicker focused on the differences between the White House and the Republican- and Democratic-led Senate. He added that he believes the Republican Party is ready to regain control.

“I think you will see peace through strength. I think you’ll see further reductions in the tax burden for people like you who want to create jobs for Mississippians and jobs for Americans… We’re going to issue more domestic drilling permits, and we’re going to allow the United States Border Patrol get back to your job again. That’s what’s at stake.”

Pinkins questions Wicker’s failure to show up at the town hall and declines debate invitations.

“He will not show up to explain to the people of Mississippi what he did.”

Wicker’s campaign staff gave television reporters an interview slot but returned, saying the senator had to leave. We were told that there were no other interview opportunities that day and asked that we send any questions by email.

Below is the response we received:

“The people of Mississippi know better than to believe these half-baked and desperate accusations made by a disastrous campaign so close to Election Day. Senator Wicker works every day in the Senate on behalf of all Mississippians. Ty doesn’t really want to argue. All of these so-called town halls were either canceled before they actually took place or were deliberately scheduled on dates when the U.S. Senate was in session and voting, and therefore Senator Wicker could not attend,” said Nathan Calvert, communications director.

Want more WLBT news in your inbox? Click here subscribe to our newsletter.

See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please Click here communicate this and include the title of the article in your email.