Trump Rallies in Nebraska as Republicans Fight to Hold Senate Seat
Former President Donald Trump brought his midterm campaign swing to Grand Island, Nebraska, on Monday, urging supporters to back Republican Senator Pete Ricketts in a race that has become unexpectedly competitive in a state Trump carried by more than 20 points in 2024.
“With your support, just 29 days from now, Nebraska is going to defeat the radical-left Dumb-o-crats once again,” Trump told a packed crowd at the Heartland Events Center, according to Reuters.
The visit underscores growing Republican concerns about the national political environment heading into the November 3 election. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released Monday found Trump’s approval rating at 32%, matching the lowest of his political career. The same survey showed registered voters preferring Democrats over Republicans 44% to 37% in the midterms, with independents favoring Democrats 37% to 21%.
Why is Nebraska’s Senate race so close?
Despite Trump’s landslide 2024 victory in Nebraska, public polling consistently shows a tight contest between Ricketts and independent candidate Dan Osborn. The race has drawn national attention as Republicans work to defend their Senate majority.
Republicans are trying to convince voters that investment, manufacturing, and economic growth under Trump outweigh the pain of higher prices stemming from the administration’s military action against Iran. But the poll numbers suggest that message is facing headwinds, particularly among key demographic groups.
Trump’s support weakens among Hispanic voters
The Reuters/Ipsos poll found Trump’s support eroding among Hispanic voters, a group that helped propel him to victory in 2024. Just 24% of Hispanic Americans approved of his performance, while 52% of Hispanic registered voters said they planned to vote Democratic in the November 3 election, compared with 26% who planned to vote Republican.
Polling also shows Democrats competitive in several states Trump won by double digits in 2024, including Nebraska, making the final weeks of the campaign critical for Republican turnout efforts.
Supporters pack Grand Island venue
Organizers added hundreds of chairs to accommodate the crowd at the Heartland Events Center, where many attendees wore Trump’s signature red shirts and University of Nebraska attire in the same shade. The former president has grown agitated at recent reporting of empty chairs and early departures at his rallies, but Monday’s event appeared to draw a full house.
For many in attendance, the rally was a rare opportunity to see Trump in person. He has visited Nebraska only about six times since 2016 and not once since 2022, public records show.
“I am not sure I will ever see him in person again and didn’t want to miss this. He doesn’t come here often,” said Nancy Rhodes, a 54-year-old stay-at-home mother who drove an hour to see the president.
Rhodes acknowledged that Trump’s decision to engage militarily with Iran has driven up prices, and said it may hurt the party’s chances of retaining power. But she said disarming Iran’s nuclear program was worth the cost.
What’s next for Trump’s campaign schedule?
Trump started his campaign swing last week with stops in Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Ohio, reflecting his strategy of energizing voters in Republican-friendly states while making himself the central messenger for the party. He told reporters Monday that he plans to travel nearly every day until the November 3 midterms, including stops in Iowa and Michigan.
The former president also spent part of the weekend pushing to end the twice-yearly clock change, arguing that farmers support permanent daylight saving time because it would give them more sunlight later in the day. He publicly shared Republican Senator Tom Cotton’s cellphone number as the two sparred over the issue.
What does this mean for Iowa voters?
Trump’s planned stop in Iowa signals that Republicans view the state as a critical part of their midterm strategy. Iowa voters can expect heightened campaign activity in the coming weeks as both parties compete for control of Congress.
With the election just 29 days away, the race in Nebraska and other battleground states will hinge on whether Republicans can overcome the headwinds of rising prices and low approval ratings by emphasizing economic growth and national security achievements.
Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw; Editing by Sergio Non, Thomas Derpinghaus and Jamie Freed.