Trump Holds Final Rallies in Iowa and Kansas to Defend GOP Senate Majority

President Donald Trump is concluding the final days of the midterm campaign with rallies in Iowa and Kansas, two states he has won in previous cycles. The trips signal a defensive strategy for the Republican Party as the elections approach a direct test of his second term in the White House.

More than 52 million votes have already been cast in the cycle. Trump took a one-day break on Saturday before resuming his travel schedule. The Iowa and Kansas stops were initially canceled but were later rescheduled. This scheduling shift underscores the urgency with which Republicans seek to preserve their Senate majority.

Trump begins his final weekend of campaigning on Sunday afternoon in Dubuque, Iowa. In that state, Republicans are contesting a critical Senate seat and the governor's office. The 2nd Congressional District, which includes Dubuque, has also become competitive. Republicans are working to protect their fragile majority in the House of Representatives.

The president will close out the campaign in Salina, Kansas, on Tuesday. Adam Hamilton is running for Senate in that state. His bid aims to make him the first Kansas Democrat to win a Senate seat in 94 years.

The political environment has shifted since the 2024 election. At that time, Trump focused on flipping states that backed Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. This year, his focus has turned to states where he previously held dominant support. Voters, including some past supporters, are questioning the economic effects of his tariff decisions and the launch of the war in Iran.

These dynamics have aided Democrats in their effort to regain congressional majorities. The party faces its own internal challenges as it moves toward the election. In Michigan, the Democratic nominee, Abdul El-Sayed, is spending the final days of the campaign in a public dispute with Rep. Haley Stevens. Stevens was one of his primary opponents. The feud threatens to divide the party heading into the vote.