Trump Rallies in Iowa and Kansas
The president spent Sunday in Salina and Dubuque as Democrats in Michigan fractured over the Senate race.
By Samir Doyle ·
President Donald Trump held two rallies in Iowa and Kansas on Sunday, marking the final weekend of a turbulent midterm campaign. In Salina, Kansas, and Dubuque, Iowa, he addressed crowds in states he has won comfortably in the past. Republicans in both states face challenges from Democrats that threaten their majorities in the Senate and House.
In Iowa, Trump declared that Republicans are on the verge of sweeping victories on Election Day. He stated, “We’re going to elect ‘America first’ Republicans up and down the line,” during a speech that lasted two hours. Later, he arrived late in Kansas, where Air Force One performed a flyover before landing. His nearly 90-minute speech in rural central Kansas ended near 10 p.m. local time, after hundreds of attendees had begun leaving.
Trump has crisscrossed the country since October 1, holding more than two dozen rallies in 19 states to support the GOP. He is scheduled to give his final pitch on Monday at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington. With more than 54 million votes already cast, these trips reflect a defensive posture for the party. The campaign has become a referendum on Trump’s second term as voters question the economic impact of his tariffs and the war in Iran.
In Michigan, Democrats faced internal conflict that risks their effort to retake the Senate. Haley Stevens, a congresswoman and former primary opponent of Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, endorsed Republican Mike Rogers. Stevens announced her support after El-Sayed’s campaign rescinded an invitation to a Democratic event. She said, “Our Democratic nominee for Senate said I was no longer welcome in his campaign and that I should stay away.”
The endorsement forced other Democrats to reaffirm their support for El-Sayed. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stated the party was “united in our support.” Kirsten Gillibrand, who leads the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said the party would “stand firmly” behind El-Sayed and “reject any efforts to divide Democrats.” Sen. Bernie Sanders, a top supporter of El-Sayed, dismissed concerns about a divide on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” He noted that Stevens lost a close primary but that people in the state are standing with El-Sayed.
Michigan is a key race for Democrats seeking control of the Senate. If they do not keep that seat on Tuesday, they will face pressure to win races in deeper Republican territory such as Texas, Kansas, Ohio, or Iowa. The closing stretch of the campaign is testing Trump’s strength within the Republican Party, which he reshaped a decade ago.
Voters at the rallies expressed confidence in the president. Jon Lutz, a 60-year-old civil engineer from Dubuque, said he is happy with Trump’s second-term record and wants Republicans to keep control of Congress. Wendy Kuenzler, a 44-year-old from Burlington, said she does not blame rising gas and grocery prices on Trump. Liz Wagner, a 59-year-old restaurant owner from Atchison, Kansas, traveled 165 miles to attend the Salina rally. She said she agrees with everything Trump says and wants people to “get up and go to work.”
Outgoing Rep. Don Bacon raised concerns that Trump’s policies, particularly tariffs, could weigh down the GOP. He told CNN’s “State of the Union” that tariffs are not popular in the Midwest and predicted a debate within the party if there are losses this week. Sen. Tim Scott, chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, remained optimistic. He told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Trump’s agenda is on the ballot and expressed confidence that Republicans would keep the Senate.
