Trump Campaigns in Iowa and Kansas to Defend Congressional Majorities Ahead of Midterms

WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump is scheduled to campaign in Iowa and Kansas on Sunday afternoon in a final push to preserve Republican majorities in both chambers of the United States Congress ahead of upcoming midterm elections.

The high-stakes campaign stops come as voters prepare to decide the outcome of 35 Senate seats and all 435 House seats on Tuesday. Republicans currently maintain a 53-47 majority in the Senate alongside a narrow advantage in the House of Representatives, margins that are under intense pressure as polling indicates tight contests across several key states.

The itinerary marks a resumption of travel for Trump following a brief stop at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida on Saturday. The campaign events in Iowa and Kansas had been abruptly cancelled by Republicans late Thursday before being rescheduled. A source close to the Trump administration stated on Friday that the president would headline the previously shelved rallies in person.

The first stop is slated for Sunday afternoon in Dubuque, Iowa, situated within the state’s 2nd Congressional District. The area has emerged as a battleground as the GOP moves to defend its fragile House edge through a competitive matchup between Gen Z Republican candidate Joe Mitchell and Democratic challenger Lindsay James. The broader region also features a closely watched contest to retain a critical Senate seat and the governorship. Although Trump secured a double-digit victory in Iowa during the 2024 presidential election, current polls show Democrats tied with or leading Republicans across numerous state races.

Trump is subsequently scheduled to visit Salina, Kansas, where incumbent Republican Senator Roger Marshall faces a tight challenge from Democratic candidate Adam Hamilton. While Kansas has deep conservative roots, having last elected a Democratic senator in 1932, the current race reflects broader electoral friction. According to Reuters/Ipsos polling data from October, Trump’s approval rating among rural Americans dipped to a new low of 45 percent.

The rallies unfold against the backdrop of unprecedented early voting turnout nationwide. Data from the University of Florida’s Election Lab shows that more than 52 million Americans have already cast ballots either in person or by mail. This figure establishes a new high-water mark for midterm elections, surpassing the nearly 46 million pre-Election Day votes recorded during the 2022 midterms.