Midterm Races: Trump targets Iowa and Kansas to shore up Republican control

President Donald Trump is visiting Iowa and Kansas this weekend to support Republican candidates in states where his party faces tough competition. His appearances come as the midterm campaign enters its final days with over 52 million votes already cast. The rallies aim to mobilize voters in districts that have become closer than in previous cycles.

Trump begins in Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday afternoon. Republicans are working to retain a key Senate seat and the governorship in that state. The 2nd Congressional District, which includes Dubuque, has also become competitive as the party seeks to protect its slim majority in the House.

He will conclude the final weekend of campaigning in Salina, Kansas, on Tuesday. Adam Hamilton is running to become the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in Kansas in 94 years. The visit marks a return to in-person rallies after Trump took a one-day break on Saturday.

The initial plans for these stops were canceled before being rescheduled. This change reflects the defensive strategy Republicans have adopted. The party is trying to prevent a loss of its Senate majority, which is currently at risk.

This approach differs from the 2024 presidential campaign, when Trump focused on flipping states that had supported Joe Biden in 2020. This year, the president has concentrated his efforts in states he has previously dominated. Voters, including former supporters, are questioning the economic effects of his tariff policies and the war in Iran.

Democrats have benefited from these shifts in their effort to regain control of Congress. However, they face their own challenges in Michigan, where they are fighting to hold a crucial Senate seat. Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed is spending the final days of the campaign in a public dispute with Rep. Haley Stevens. This feud with a former primary opponent is creating divisions within the party heading into Election Day.