Cindy Hyde-Smith is quietly establishing ties to key Republicans as she hunts for President Trump’s endorsement in the Mississippi special election to choose a permanent successor to former Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss.

Hyde-Smith, the elected state commissioner for agriculture and commerce, is a complete unknown in Washington. She slipped into the nation’s capital last week for meetings at the White House and Republican National Committee. There, Hyde-Smith met with RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, Trump’s 2020 campaign manager Brad Parscale, and other senior Republicans.