Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Ty Pinkins fired shots at those currently holding power in Washington, including his incumbent opponent Republican Roger Wicker, during his stump speech at the Neshoba County Fair on Wednesday.
In front of what was a light, GOP-leaning crowd, Pinkins began by leaning on his 21 years of military service, including three tours in Iraq, to try to rally cross-aisle support for his run for office. The Rolling Fork native argued a need for bipartisan partnership while directly challenging those he feels have “neglected their other” to those they serve.
“The reason I’m running for U.S. Senate is because our country is at a crossroads. We have leaders in Washington right now that have failed us,” Pinkins said. “They’ve forgotten us and many of them have forfeited the promise they made to us.”
He highlighted his point by reminding those in attendance at Founder’s Square of the oath he had to take on multiple occasions in his military career: “To protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic.” Pinkins said his opponent and fellow military veteran Wicker has abandoned his commitment to such an oath.
“They have failed to uphold and maintain that oath. My opponent is one of those people,” Pinkins said. “You cannot honor an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies foreign and domestic and, at the same time, support some of the issues that happened in our country.”
Among such issues, Pinkins specifically underscored the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. He asserted that the insurrection was harmful to Americans regardless of party affiliation and that those who have shown support for the incident should be held accountable this election season.
“We have to have leaders that have a moral compass. This year in Mississippi, we have to breach those divides that have historically divided us – race, sex, religion,” Pinkins concluded. “Vote your conscience. Vote based on what the person is going to do when he gets to Washington, D.C.”
While Pinkins did call for unity during his speech, the former Democratic nominee for secretary of state and Delta-based attorney did not shy away from hot-button issues such as abortion rights. In 2022, Mississippi led the charge in the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and allow states to make their own laws on the matter. Mississippi has been one of a list of states to use the opportunity to make it illegal to get an abortion.
“A lot of people tiptoe around the topic of women’s reproductive freedom. I don’t,” Pinkins said. “One, I cannot be pregnant. Two, I cannot carry a child in my body for nine months and I cannot give birth. Therefore, three, as a man, I am not qualified to tell a woman what to do with her body. That is between her, her god, and her doctor. Whether you’re a pro-life or a pro-choice woman, I support you.”
It’s worth noting that Wicker, who was in Neshoba campaigning over the weekend, is not speaking at this year’s event due to Congress’ schedule. The general election for U.S. Senate aligns with the presidential election and will be held on Nov. 5.
