Trump heads to Iowa and Kansas as Senate race tightens

More than 52 million Americans have already cast their ballots for the mid-term elections. With that many votes in the box, President Donald Trump spent the final weekend of the campaign in two states where Republicans have historically won with ease. The trip to Iowa and Kansas marks a shift in strategy for the party as it works to keep its majority in the U.S. Senate.

The first stop of the final weekend was Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday afternoon. In Iowa, Republicans are fighting to hold a key Senate seat and the governorship. The state’s second congressional district, which includes Dubuque, has also become competitive. That race matters because Republicans need to protect their slim majority in the House of Representatives.

Trump’s second stop was Salina, Kansas, where he closed out the final campaign weekend. In Kansas, Democrat Adam Hamilton is making a strong push for a Senate seat. If he wins, he will become the first Democrat from Kansas to win that seat in 94 years.

The president had taken a one-day break on Saturday before resuming his rally schedule. Republican organizers initially canceled the trips to Iowa and Kansas but moved them back into the schedule quickly. The sudden change reflects the growing worry within the party that they may lose control of the Senate.

This defensive approach differs sharply from the 2024 election. During that cycle, Trump focused on flipping states that voted for Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. This year, his energy is centered on states his party already controls. Voters, including some longtime supporters, are questioning the economic impact of his tariff policies and the war with Iran.

The Democratic Party faces its own challenges in this final stretch. They are working to maintain a crucial Senate seat in Michigan. In that race, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed is spending the last days of the campaign dealing with a public dispute with former primary opponent Rep. Haley Stevens. That fight threatens to split the party just before the vote.

Trump held more than 20 rallies in October to mobilize his most loyal voters. Those events were sometimes overshadowed by his rambling comments and his descriptions of the physical appearance of the politicians he supports. The party is testing the strength of his influence in a Republican organization he reshaped over the last decade.

Despite the pressure, Trump spent Saturday night at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. He attended a jungle-themed Halloween party there and told guests that the country has never been in better shape. He dismissed concerns about the direction of the nation while celebrating the wealth of those in the room.

Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska, voiced concerns on Sunday about how the president’s policies might hurt the party. He said’s State of the Union program that tariffs are not popular in the Midwest. Bacon said he tried to tell the president this and predicted there would be a debate within the party about its future if they suffer major losses this week.

Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina offered a more optimistic view. As the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Scott said’s Meet the Press that he is confident Republicans will keep control of the Senate. He said there is no doubt that the midterm elections are centered on Trump and that his agenda is on the ballot.

Voters in Dallas County and across the nation will head to the polls on Tuesday to decide the final outcome of these races. The results will determine whether the Republican Party maintains its majority in the Senate or if the balance of power shifts in Congress.