Trump Sets Final Midterm Stops in Iowa and Kansas

President Donald Trump will campaign in Iowa and Kansas on Sunday, two days before the midterm elections. The decision to hold these final stops came after he initially scrapped the itinerary but reversed course at the last minute. He aims to provide a closing boost for Republican candidates in states where the Senate races are closely contested.

The polls indicate tight margins in both states. A recent Marist poll shows Republican Representative Ashley Hinson trailing Iowa Democrat Josh Turek by three points. In Kansas, Democrat Adam Hamilton holds a narrow lead over incumbent Republican Senator Roger Marshall. This is the first time Hamilton has led in that race. Republicans view both seats as essential to maintaining their majority in the Senate chamber.

Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana dismissed the polling data. He stated that he has seen voters on the ground and believes the numbers are inaccurate. Johnson argued that the polls are underrepresenting Republican support. The party has scheduled Trump's rally at the Five Flags Center in Dubuque, Iowa, to begin at 3 p.m. Eastern time. He will then move to the Salina regional airport in Kansas for an event starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

Trump has won the general election in Iowa three times and in Kansas twice. His current standing is reflected in a Quinnipiac poll, which places his approval rating around 34 percent. The historical context of these races is stark. Iowa last sent a Democrat to the Senate in 2008. Kansas last sent a Democrat to the Senate nearly a century ago.

The outcome of these races will determine whether the Republican Party retains control of the Senate. Trump’s presence in these states will be assessed by the final vote counts on Tuesday. The rallies are scheduled to conclude just before the polls open for the general election.