Espy, who could become the state’s first black senator since the years after the Civil War, called his opponent’s remarks “reprehensible.”

Hyde-Smith issued an apology later Tuesday during a debate amid the outcry over both events but accused her critics of twisting her words for “political gain.”

“For anyone that was offended by my comments, I certainly apologize,” Hyde-Smith said. “There was no ill will, no intent whatsoever in my statements.”

She added: “This comment was twisted, and it was turned into a weapon to be used against me.”

Espy, however, said her words hadn’t been misinterpreted “because the comments came out of your mouth.”

“I don’t know what’s in your heart, but we know what came out of your mouth,” the Democrat said.

Walmart on Tuesday said it would seek a refund for its campaign donation to Hyde-Smith, saying her remark about public hangings does not “reflect the values of our company and associates.”

The senator also appeared to endorse voter suppression during a campaign stop ahead of the Nov. 6 midterms. She said efforts to undermine voting among liberals at certain colleges would be a “great idea.”

“And then they remind me that there’s a lot of liberal folks in those other schools who maybe we don’t want to vote,” Hyde-Smith told a small crowd of young people outside her campaign bus in a video taken Nov. 3 and posted online last week. “Maybe we want to make it just a little more difficult. And I think that’s a great idea.”

This article has been updated with Hyde-Smith’s apology late Tuesday.