Trump pushes for Republican wins in Iowa and Kansas as midterm race tightens

More than 54 million Americans had already voted by the time President Donald Trump took the stage in Salina, Kansas, on Sunday. His presence there, following a two-hour address in Dubuque, Iowa, marked the final push for his party in a legislative election that has turned into a referendum on his second term.

The campaign trail has shifted dramatically since 2024, when Trump focused on states that supported Joe Biden. This year, he has concentrated his efforts in states he previously dominated, such as Iowa and Kansas. Voters in these regions are questioning the economic effects of his tariff policies and the conflict with Iran, prompting a defensive posture from Republican leaders.

In Dubuque, Trump argued that his party was on the verge of a sweeping victory. He told supporters, “We are going to elect ‘America First’ Republicans all across the ballot.” His message aimed to energize local voters who see the upcoming Tuesday election as a direct test of his administration’s performance.

The race in Michigan presents a different challenge for Democrats. Rep. Haley Stevens, who lost the Democratic primary to Abdul El-Sayed, announced her support for Republican candidate Mike Rogers. Stevens said she made the decision after El-Sayed told her she was no longer welcome at campaign events. “Our Senate Democratic candidate said I was no longer welcome in his campaign and that I needed to stay out of his way,” Stevens said in a video. “He is right. And so today, I am giving my endorsement to Mike Rogers for the U.S. Senate.”

Party leaders quickly moved to unify the base. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stated that Democrats were “united in our support” for El-Sayed. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, chair of the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, said the party would “stand firm” and “reject any attempt to divide the Democrats.” Sen. Bernie Sanders dismissed concerns about the split, noting that Stevens lost a close primary and that voters across the state were mobilizing for El-Sayed.

Michigan is a critical battleground for Democrats seeking to retake the Senate. If they lose that seat, they face greater pressure to win races in more difficult states, including Texas, Kansas, Ohio, and Iowa. The outcome there could determine the balance of power in the upper chamber for the next two years.

In Iowa, local residents described their motivations for supporting the Republican ticket. Jon Lutz, a 60-year-old civil engineer, attended his first Trump rally that day and said he was satisfied with the president’s performance. “He has done what he said he would do,” Lutz said. “I want him to keep doing it.”

Wendy Kuenzler, 44, also attended the rally for the first time. She said Iowa was at a crossroads due to the number of competitive races and planned to vote for Senate candidate Ashley Hinson. Kuenzler did not blame Trump for rising gas and food prices, stating, “He is on his way to fixing it.”

In Kansas, Liz Wagner, a 59-year-old restaurant owner, traveled 165 miles to the Salina airport event. She said she agreed with everything Trump said and urged voters to go to work rather than ask for help. “I want people to get up and go to work and stop holding out their hand,” Wagner said. “Democrats like to give things away.”

Republican officials expressed mixed feelings about the president's role in the campaign. Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska warned that tariffs might hurt the party’s chances in the Midwest. “Tariffs are not popular here in the mid-north,” Bacon said. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina remained optimistic, asserting that Republicans would keep their Senate majority and praising Trump’s involvement. “There is no doubt that President Trump himself has said that the mid-term election is about him,” Scott said. “His agenda, without a doubt, is on the ballot.”