Iowa's Republican ticket made its final pitch to voters Monday night in Des Moines, one day before midterm elections that will decide control of Congress for the final two years of President Donald Trump's second term.
Rep. Ashley Hinson's Senate campaign bus rolled into a packed ballroom as Fleetwood Mac's “Don't Stop” played for a cheering crowd, capping a final rally that also featured Sen. Chuck Grassley, Rep. Zach Nunn and other Republicans on the statewide ballot, according to live coverage from al.
Grassley and Nunn make the case for keeping Iowa red
Nunn, whose district ranks among the most competitive House seats in the country, touted what he called a record Republicans can stand behind. He described his district as the “tip of the spear” in the party's battle to hold its slim House majority.
Grassley, the longtime incumbent seeking another term, asked Iowans to give him a colleague in the Senate who “won't neutralize my vote,” a pointed reminder that Hinson's election would keep both of Iowa's Senate seats in Republican hands.
Hinson closed the event flanked by her family, telling supporters that Iowa values are worth fighting for and “are on the ballot tomorrow.”
“Grab an umbrella,” she told voters heading to the polls Tuesday. “At least it's not a blizzard.”
Trump spends final day at the Reflecting Pool, not the trail
While down-ballot Republicans barnstormed competitive states, Trump delivered his closing midterm address at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, marking its reopening after repairs and promoting his plans for the nation's capital, including a proposed “promenade” connecting the memorial to the Potomac River.
The choice drew head-scratching from some Republicans. Strategist Doug Heye called the setting “bizarre and being very self-focused,” telling reporters the staged posters would not move a single undecided voter on the final day.
Trump eventually pivoted to the midterms, calling Tuesday's elections potentially the most important of “our lifetime” and warning that Democrats had “nominated the most extreme and dangerous slate of candidates in American history.” He also touted his record on border security and tax cuts while acknowledging the historical difficulty facing the president's party in midterms.
“For some reason, the sitting president doesn't win the midterms,” Trump said. “But we gave this a very strong shot.”
Supreme Court rejects California ballot challenge
The high court on Monday rejected the Trump administration's emergency push to set aside roughly 20,000 California mail ballots from voters the federal government suspects may not be citizens, the Associated Press reported. The administration had appealed after lower courts blocked the effort, arguing the ballots should not be counted until citizenship is verified.
Chief Judge James Boasberg, in a lower ruling, wrote that the administration's demands likely violate the Constitution's Elections Clause, which commits authority over election rules to the states and Congress. California officials said the list was riddled with errors and could disenfranchise legal voters, according to NBC News.
The case was the latest in a burst of election litigation filed on the eve of the vote, and it keeps the national spotlight on election integrity questions that have energized conservative voters since 2020.
Michigan Democrats fracture as Stevens endorses Rogers
Democrats suffered a late blow in Michigan's Senate race when former Democratic Senate candidate Haley Stevens, who lost the August primary to Abdul El-Sayed, stunned party officials Sunday by endorsing Republican Mike Rogers.
At his election eve rally, Rogers said Stevens told him of the endorsement only after a Detroit church service Sunday. The crowd chanted her name as Rogers praised her decision.
“You know courage when you see it,” Rogers said, predicting Republicans would “surprise some people.”
El-Sayed, campaigning with Rep. Debbie Dingell and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, urged nervous Democrats to simply “go vote.” The fracture threatens Democratic efforts to retake the Senate and hands Republicans an unexpected opening in a key Midwest battleground.
Iran talks and gas prices loom over the vote
Oil prices dropped sharply Monday, with Brent crude falling about 7.5% to around $104.98 a barrel, amid signs of progress in diplomatic efforts to end the nine-month war with Iran, CBS News reported. Trump told the Reflecting Pool crowd he hoped voters would weigh the price drop at the polls.
“I hope people realize that when they go into the voting booth, because we had to stop Iran from having a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.
Vice President JD Vance told reporters Monday that he had just spoken with Trump about the negotiations and said both feel “pretty good about the prospects for potentially coming to a negotiated settlement.” He said the administration's chief demand is a verifiable commitment that Iran does not rebuild its nuclear program.
Vance also campaigned in upstate New York, touting Trump's legislation ending taxes on tips and overtime and telling the crowd Republicans are “fighting for people who love the United States of America, not those who hate it.”
What happens Tuesday in Iowa
Polls across Iowa open Tuesday morning, with Hinson's Senate race against Democrat Bob Krause drawing national attention as Republicans work to hold the Senate. Nunn's rematch in the 3rd District remains one of the most expensive and closely watched House contests in the country.
Trump has no public Election Day appearances scheduled, with the White House listing only private meetings and a closed election night reception in the East Room, though that could change depending on how Republicans fare as results come in.
FAQ
When is the 2026 midterm election in Iowa?
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, with polls open across Iowa and results expected to determine control of the U.S. House and Senate.
Who are the top Republican candidates on Iowa's ballot?
Rep. Ashley Hinson is running for U.S. Senate, Sen. Chuck Grassley is seeking reelection, and Rep. Zach Nunn is defending the competitive 3rd Congressional District.
What did the Supreme Court decide about California ballots?
The court on Monday rejected the Trump administration's request to set aside about 20,000 disputed mail ballots in California, allowing them to be counted while litigation continues.