President Donald Trump brought his closing argument to Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday, November 1, urging voters to keep Republicans in control of Congress as the country heads into Tuesday's midterm elections.
The Iowa stop was part of a final weekend blitz that also took the president to Florida and Kansas, part of a 28-stop sprint designed to turn out Republican voters before Election Day, according to NBC News. Trump later addressed a crowd in Salina, Kansas, where he pressed the same message: send a Republican House and Senate back to Washington.
What Trump told the Dubuque crowd
According to Anadolu Ajansı, the president told supporters that Republican control of Congress would keep his agenda moving, and he laid out the policies he wants to pursue over the next two years. Those include tighter immigration restrictions, voter identification and proof-of-citizenship requirements, and a ban on sanctuary cities.
He also called for the death penalty for large-scale drug dealers and human traffickers, as well as for anyone convicted of killing a law enforcement officer, a proposal that drew attention to his law-and-order platform heading into the vote.
"If you elect a Republican House and Republican Senate on November 3rd, we will continue to put America first every single day."
Trump delivered that line in Salina, but it captured the message he carried through Iowa as well: the election is a referendum on the direction of the country, and turnout will decide it.
"The golden age of America is upon us, but you must go out and vote."
Why the Iowa stop matters here
For Iowa voters, the president's decision to spend part of his final weekend in Dubuque signals how competitive the state remains in the fight for Congress. The Nov. 3 midterms will determine control of both chambers, with all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats on the ballot.
Trump has carried Iowa in past elections, and BBC reporting notes that his final campaign push targeted states he has won before, including Florida, Iowa and Kansas. The strategy puts the burden on Republican turnout in places like eastern Iowa, where Dubuque sits along the Mississippi River.
The president's message on immigration enforcement, voter ID requirements and support for law enforcement aligns with priorities that poll after poll shows resonating with Iowa's electorate, particularly in rural counties and small towns where agricultural and energy policy carry real weight.
Trump's closing message: win, win, win
In Kansas, Trump backed Republican Sen. Roger Marshall, who is seeking reelection, and Republican gubernatorial candidate Ty Masterson. He framed the election in blunt terms.
"Let's go out and do what we do best, which is to win, win, win. On November 3rd, we're going to win, and let's make the next two years bigger and better and stronger than ever before."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also spoke briefly at the Kansas rally, praising Trump's record on national security.
"The most important job every president does is keep you and your family safe, and no president in my lifetime has done that better than the one we have right now."
Rubio added that under Trump, "America's stronger. You're safer, and our enemies are weaker all around the world."
What's at stake on Election Day
Control of both the House and Senate hangs in the balance Tuesday. A Republican sweep would give the president a working majority to pursue the border security measures, energy policies and agriculture priorities he campaigned on. A split result, or Democratic gains, would mean gridlock in Washington for the final two years of Trump's term.
The president's 28 rallies over the closing stretch, NBC News reported, reflect the priority his campaign placed on direct voter contact in the states that will decide the map. Iowa's place on that list confirms the state's role as a battleground worth the president's time in the campaign's final hours.
Frequently asked questions
When are the 2026 midterm elections?
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. All 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats are up for election.
Where did Trump hold his final rallies?
Trump held rallies in Florida, Iowa and Kansas over the final weekend, including a stop in Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday, Nov. 1.
What did Trump promise if Republicans win?
He said Republicans would pursue tighter immigration restrictions, voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements, a ban on sanctuary cities, and the death penalty for large-scale drug dealers, human traffickers and those convicted of killing law enforcement officers.