Trump rallies in Iowa and Kansas ahead of election

President Donald Trump held campaign events in Dubuque, Iowa, and Salina, Kansas, on Sunday. He spoke for two hours in Iowa before traveling to Kansas. The stops occurred one day before the midterm elections. Republicans in both states face strong Democratic challenges that threaten their majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives.

In Iowa, Trump told supporters that the party was close to a decisive victory. He stated, “We are going to elect ‘America First’ Republicans up and down the ballot.” The president’s tour reflects a defensive strategy. In 2024, he focused on states that voted for Joe Biden in 2020. This year, he targets states he previously dominated. Voters, including past allies, question the economic effects of his tariffs and the war with Iran. More than 54 million ballots have already been cast.

Democratic candidates in Michigan faced internal division on Sunday. Rep. Haley Stevens, a former rival of Sen. Abdul El-Sayed in the primary, endorsed Republican Mike Rogers. Stevens said she backed Rogers after El-Sayed’s campaign removed her invitation to a Democratic event. She posted a video announcing her support. She said, “Our Democratic candidate for Senate told me I was no longer welcome in his campaign and that I needed to stay out of it.”

Other Democrats reaffirmed their support for El-Sayed. Sen. Chuck Schumer said the party was “united in our support.” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said the party would “stand firm” with El-Sayed. Sen. Bernie Sanders dismissed concerns about a split on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” He noted that Stevens lost a close primary and understood her frustration. He said he saw voters mobilizing to support El-Sayed. Michigan is a key seat for Democrats to regain control of the Senate.

Local voters expressed their views on the president’s second term. Jon Lutz, a 60-year-old civil engineer in Dubuque, attended his first Trump rally on Sunday. Lutz said he was satisfied with the administration’s progress. He stated, “He did what he said he was going to do.” Wendy Kuenzler, a 44-year-old woman, also attended her first event in Iowa. She plans to support Republican Senate candidate Ashley Hinson. Kuenzler said she does not blame Trump for rising gas and food prices, adding, “He’s on his way to fixing it.”

In Salina, Kansas, Liz Wagner, a 59-year-old restaurant owner, traveled 266 kilometers from her hometown to see Trump. She said she agreed with everything he said. She told a crowd, “I want people to get up and go to work and stop reaching out for a hand.” Trump paused his schedule on Saturday to attend a Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago, Florida. Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska warned on CNN that tariffs could hurt Republicans in the Midwest. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina predicted on NBC that Republicans would keep the Senate majority.

The campaign continues with votes counted on Tuesday. Democrats in Iowa, including gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand, held events across the state on Sunday. Republicans aim to retain power in the Congress. The outcome will determine if Trump’s agenda advances in the next two years.