President Donald Trump arrives in Dubuque Sunday afternoon for a rally at the Five Flags Event Center, kicking off the final weekend of campaigning before Iowans head to the polls on Tuesday. The stop puts the national spotlight on eastern Iowa, where Republicans are working to hold a critical Senate seat, the governor's office, and a suddenly competitive 2nd Congressional District.
The Associated Press, according to PBS.org, reports that Trump's Dubuque rally is the first of two Sunday stops, with a second rally planned in Salina, Kansas, where Democrat Adam Hamilton is trying to become the first Kansas Democrat to win a Senate seat in 94 years. The Gateway Pundit notes the rallies are back-to-back events held just two days before the midterm election.
High stakes for Iowa Republicans
Iowa sits at the center of the GOP's defensive map this cycle. Republicans are battling to hold onto the Senate seat, protect the governor's office, and defend the 2nd Congressional District, which includes Dubuque and has become competitive as the party works to keep its fragile House majority.
More than 52 million votes have already been cast nationwide, and the closing stretch has become a referendum on Trump's second term. Election Central reports the Dubuque rally is part of a push for Republican candidates including Ashley Hinson and Roger Marshall.
Why Dubuque matters
The 2nd District race matters far beyond Iowa's borders. If Democrats fail to win Senate seats in states like Michigan, they face added pressure to pick up races in deeper Republican territory such as Texas, Kansas, Ohio or Iowa. That makes every eastern Iowa vote a piece of the national puzzle controlling who runs the Senate next year.
For Trump, the Iowa stop is familiar ground. He has handily won the state in past elections, but this year's campaign has focused largely on states he has dominated before, as some voters, including previous supporters, question the economic fallout of his tariff policies and the war in Iran.
Dems fracture in Michigan while Iowa GOP rallies
While Republicans rally in Iowa, Democrats are dealing with their own troubles in Michigan. Haley Stevens, who lost the Senate primary to Abdul El-Sayed, appeared at a church service with Republican Mike Rogers and then endorsed his campaign.
Our Democratic nominee for Senate said I was no longer welcome in his campaign and that I should stay away, Stevens said in a video announcing the endorsement. And he's right. And that's why I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today.
The move forced Democratic leaders to publicly reiterate support for El-Sayed. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said the party was united in its support, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who leads the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said Democrats would reject any efforts to divide the party. Sen. Bernie Sanders dismissed the rift on CBS' Face the Nation, saying people across Michigan are standing with El-Sayed.
Iowans show up for the president
In Dubuque, Trump's supporters are eager to see him in person. Jon Lutz, a Dubuque resident who watches videos of Trump regularly but had never attended a rally, showed up Sunday for his first one.
He's done what he's said he's going to do, Lutz said. I want him to keep going.
Lutz said he wants Republicans to keep control of the House and Senate so the president's agenda can advance. That enthusiasm is exactly what GOP organizers are counting on in the final 48 hours.
Some GOP voices warn about tariffs
Not every Republican is confident. Outgoing Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska warned Sunday that the president's tariff policies could weigh down the party in the Midwest.
Tariffs are not popular here in the Midwest, Bacon told CNN's State of the Union. I tried telling the president that.
Bacon predicted there will be a debate in the party about its future if Republicans suffer significant losses this week. For Iowa farmers and manufacturers, who have felt the strain of trade disruptions, that debate will hit close to home.
Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee, was more optimistic. He told NBC's Meet the Press he is confident Republicans will keep the Senate and welcomed Trump's central role in the campaign.
There's no doubt that President Trump has said himself that the midterm election is about him, Scott said. His agenda, without any question, is on the ballot.
What happens next
Trump planned to close the last weekend of campaigning with the Salina, Kansas rally Sunday evening. The Guardian is covering the Dubuque rally live from the Five Flags Event Center. Polls open across Iowa on Tuesday, and the results will decide control of the Senate, the governor's office, and the 2nd District seat, with national consequences for the Trump agenda.
FAQ
When and where is Trump's Iowa rally?
Trump is scheduled to rally Sunday afternoon, November 1, at the Five Flags Event Center in Dubuque, Iowa, two days before Election Day on Tuesday.
Why is Dubuque important in the 2026 midterms?
Dubuque sits in Iowa's competitive 2nd Congressional District, and Iowa features a Senate seat, the governor's office and a House race that could help decide control of Congress.
Who else is Trump campaigning for on Sunday?
After Dubuque, Trump travels to Salina, Kansas, where Republicans are working to hold a Senate seat against Democrat Adam Hamilton.