Trump rallies in Iowa and Kansas as Republicans defend midterms
The president closes out the campaign in states he previously won easily while Democrats in Michigan face internal conflict over the Senate race.
By Fatou Kim ·
President Donald Trump is using his final days before the Nov. 3 election to rally supporters in Iowa and Kansas. These are states he won easily in previous cycles. Republicans are using his appearances to protect their current seats in the Senate and the House. The strategy reflects a defensive posture as more than 52 million votes have already been cast.
Trump's first stop is Sunday afternoon in Dubuque, Iowa. The city lies in the 2nd Congressional District, which has become competitive. Republicans are fighting to hold the Senate seat and the governor's office in the state. He plans to finish the weekend with a visit to Salina, Kansas. Democrat Adam Hamilton is seeking to become the first Kansas Democrat to win a Senate seat in 94 years.
The focus on these specific states marks a shift from the 2024 presidential campaign. Then, Trump targeted states that had backed Joe Biden in 2020. This year, voters, including some past supporters, are questioning the economic impact of his tariffs and the war in Iran. Those concerns have helped Democrats in their bid to regain congressional majorities.
Democrats face their own challenges in Michigan, where they are trying to retake the Senate. Nominee Abdul El-Sayed is engaged in a public feud with Rep. Haley Stevens, his primary opponent. Stevens appeared with Republican Mike Rogers at a church service instead of joining El-Sayed and Rep. Jim Clyburn. Stevens criticized El-Sayed for not supporting Israel enough. Her fiancé said last week he is voting for Rogers because El-Sayed did not address Jewish community concerns.
Rep. Debbie Dingell, who organized the planned joint appearance to unify the party, said she asked Stevens not to attend. Stevens told her she would comply. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a supporter of El-Sayed, dismissed fears of a party split on CBS' Face the Nation. He noted that Stevens lost a close primary but said people across the state are standing with El-Sayed.
Trump paused his rally schedule on Saturday to attend a Halloween party at his Mar-a-Lago resort. He told guests the country has never done better. Outgoing Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska warned on CNN that tariffs are unpopular in the Midwest. He said he tried to tell the president this. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told NBC that the midterm election is about Trump and his agenda.
If Democrats lose the Michigan seat on Tuesday, they will face added pressure to win races in Texas, Kansas, Ohio, or Iowa. The outcome of these races will determine if Republicans keep their control of the Senate.
