According to Espy campaign sources, Espy has raised almost $200,000 since Ginsburg’s death was announced Friday evening. This total is nearly one-third of the amount Espy raised between April and June. Although a fundraising advantage does not translate into votes, Espy could see a significant influx of cash within 45 days of Election Day. Espy has publicly acknowledged the need to reach more Mississippi voters in the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been largely ignored by national Democrats. Espy said in a Saturday morning fundraising message that “We know the GOP Senate majority” is vulnerable. “Mitch McConnell admitted that he has a 50-50 chance. He announced his plans to push through another Supreme Court Justice within two hours of learning that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had died. Hyde-Smith is among the least popular incumbent senators. He has raised less money than 96 senators including Roger Wicker from Mississippi, who won’t be facing another election until 2024. Three Senate incumbents with lower fundraising totals than Hyde Smith have declared that they will not run for re-election. Ginsburg’s passing and the debate about whether the Senate should confirm President Donald Trump to replace her before Election Day, or before the new Senate is inaugurated on January 3, 2021, brings into sharp focus the importance of the U.S. Senate elections this fall. Democrats from across the country are giving record amounts to Democratic Senate Campaigns because senators must confirm a presidential candidate to the Supreme Court. ActBlue, which helps Democratic candidates, committees, and organizations raise funds, has reported that nearly $57 million was raised between Saturday’s announcement of Ginsburg’s death and Saturday afternoon. This is a new record for single-day donations. Many experts believe that the U.S. Senate could be flipped to Democratic control, since it has been controlled by Republicans since 2016. Trump is trailing in key electoral-college states polls and appears to be the underdog in his fight against Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. The Republican leaders seem eager to make the most of their remaining weeks in power and flip control over the Supreme Court. Ginsburg, the second woman to be elected to the Supreme Court, was a cultural and political icon for the left. She stood up for equal rights and was the only female to hold that position. Republicans having the ability to fill Ginsburg’s seat could mean that conservative-leaning justices would control the nation’s highest court. Democrats worry that key Supreme Court decisions such as Roe v. Wade could also be overturned by Republicans. Democrats argue that the nomination for Ginsburg’s replacement on the court should be made after a new president is elected and a new Senate are elected. Trump and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are among many Republicans who believe that the Senate and the president should vote on Trump’s nomination before the new Senate is sworn into office. Trump tweeted Saturday morning that “We were placed in this position of power, and importance to make decisions to benefit the people who so proudly elected” The nomination of Trump to the court would be blocked if four Republican senators and all five Democratic senators refuse to confirm him. At least one Republican senator, Senator Susan Collins of Maine, stated that Trump should be able to nominate the next justice after he is elected on November 3. The Senate should also not vote before then. Mississippi Today asked Hyde-Smith and Wicker whether they think a Trump nominee should get confirmed by the Senate prior to new leaders taking office. Espy also has not made any public comments on the matter.