Democratic US Senate candidate Ty Pinkins is upset with the Democratic Party. Here is why

Ty Pinkins, the Democratic challenger to Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, is unhappy with what he said is a lack of support from the National Democratic Party.

Pinkins' team in an email to the Clarion Ledger on Tuesday said Pinkins is unsatisfied with the party's lack of effort in supporting his candidacy and said Mississippi Democrats are now missing out on millions of dollars flowing from the Vice President Kamala Harris Presidential Campaign to down-ballot candidates throughout the nation.

"We have learned that the Harris campaign is allocating an unprecedented $25 million for down-ballot spending, but none of that funding is being directed to Mississippi to support local candidates," the email states.

Pinkins' email also expressed a lack of support from U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Dist. 2, who declined to comment on the email.

Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman and State Rep. Cheikh Taylor, D-Starkville, told the Clarion Ledger Thursday that while he understands Pinkins position, Mississippi is not a battleground state and funds the DNC gives to candidates are needed elsewhere.

"That money will be for the entire country, but this is not a battleground state," Taylor said. "We do hope to be a pivotal swing state in the next four years. Ty Pickens is an excellent candidate … As a candidate (for state office), I get the frustration."

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Taylor said he is hoping to assist Pinkins with a $300,000 grant from the DNC that will pay for new state party staff members and campaign marketing for all three state candidates, including Pinkins and other Democratic candidates, Diane Black, who is running against Trent Kelly in District 1, and Thompson, who faces Republican Ron Eller.

"It's my hope that somehow, very quickly, that that narrative changes and that we could go ahead and secure victory for that U.S. Senate seat," Taylor said, noting how useful the money could be to the state.

Taylor said that money will help in efforts to turn Mississippi into more of a battleground state by creating more positions in key areas to advocate on the party's behalf. Awardees of the grant will be announced later this month, Taylor said.

During the 2023 election cycle, the state party was slated to receive up to $250,000 in a donation from the DNC, but because of instability caused by former Party Chair Tyree Irving, who was later ousted from the position and replaced by Taylor, that money never came.

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As for whether those funds, if awarded to the Mississippi Democratic Party, could help put Pinkins over the hump with Wicker, Taylor said that no matter what happens, the recent rise of Vice President Kamala Harris to the Democratic Nominee to face off with GOP candidate and former President Donald Trump, will rise up other Democrats like Pinkins.

Pinkins initially agreed to answer further questions on his campaign's initial statements but was unable to respond by press time.

Since 2023 Pinkins has raised approximately $499,333 and spent $447,374, leaving him with about $52,106 in cash on hand, according to Federal Election Commission data. A large portion of that fundraising has come via ActBlue, a political action group and fundraising platform that sends money from individual donors to candidates aimed at supporting Democrats.

In comparison, Wicker has raised $6.1 million in contributions and transfers from other committees and spent more than $5 million. Wicker has $3.6 million in cash on hand, which includes funds he raised prior to 2023.

Neither candidate has directly received money from their state or national parties, according to FEC filings ending on June 30.

Poll data from The Hill, a news and political data website, reports Wicker has a 99% chance of keeping his seat in the Senate.

Grant McLaughlin covers state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: MS Senate candidate feels unsupported by DNC, Bennie Thompson