Trump rallies in Iowa and Kansas as Republicans defend seats

President Donald Trump is spending the final days of the midterm campaign in two states where Republicans hold critical seats. He is scheduled to rally in Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday afternoon before heading to Salina, Kansas, on Monday. These stops aim to shore up the GOP's defensive position in races that have become closer than expected.

In Iowa, Republicans are fighting to retain a Senate seat and the governorship. The 2nd Congressional District, which includes Dubuque, has also turned competitive. In Kansas, Democrat Adam Hamilton is challenging for the Senate seat, aiming to be the first Democrat to win the position in 94 years. More than 52 million votes have already been cast in the election.

The strategy marks a shift from the 2024 cycle, when Trump focused on flipping states that supported Joe Biden. This year, the campaign concentrates on states Trump has dominated in the past. Voters, including some previous supporters, are questioning the economic impact of tariffs and the war in Iran. The rallies serve as a test of Trump's influence over the party he reshaped over the last decade.

Democrats face their own challenges in Michigan, where Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is defending his seat. Former primary opponent Haley Stevens appeared with Republican Mike Rogers at a church service and later endorsed Rogers. Stevens cited a video in which she said El-Sayed told her she was no longer welcome in his campaign.

"Our Democratic nominee for Senate said I was no longer welcome in his campaign and that I should stay away," Stevens said in the video. "And he's right. And that's why I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today."

Party leaders moved to unify the Democratic base in response. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer stated the party was united in its support for El-Sayed. Kirsten Gillibrand, who leads the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said the party would stand firmly behind El-Sayed and reject efforts to divide the group. Senator Bernie Sanders, a supporter of El-Sayed, dismissed concerns about a split on CBS' Face the Nation, noting that Stevens lost a close primary but that voters in the state are standing with El-Sayed.

Michigan is a key part of the Democratic effort to retake the Senate. If the party loses that seat, it will face pressure to win races in more Republican-leaning states such as Texas, Ohio, and Iowa. On the GOP side, outgoing Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska warned that tariffs could hurt the party in the Midwest. He predicted a debate within the party if there are large losses this week. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, expressed confidence that Republicans will keep the Senate, stating that Trump's agenda is on the ballot.