President Donald Trump will campaign in Iowa on Sunday as Republicans make their final push before Tuesday's midterm elections, capping a month in which he held 25 rallies for GOP candidates nationwide.
Trump initially canceled the weekend rallies in Iowa and Kansas before reinstating the in-person stops, according to Firstpost. He will hold nearly 20 telephone rallies on Saturday across 19 states, then return to the stage Sunday in both states, where competitive Senate races could help decide control of Congress.
Iowa Senate race anchors Trump's Sunday schedule
The Iowa visit carries high stakes for Republicans. Ashley Hinson, the GOP Senate nominee, is running against Democrat Josh Turek in a contest that could shape the Senate majority for the next two years. Kansas features a similarly tight race, with Republican Senator Roger Marshall facing Democrat Adam Hamilton.
Trump has openly questioned whether his physical presence at rallies still moves voters, even as he insists Republican candidates want his support. The blend of tele-rallies and in-person events lets him reach voters in multiple states at once while keeping his signature rally appearances alive in the final 72 hours.
CNN reported that Republican candidates in five states received virtual boosts from Trump tele-rally appearances, and that the president reinstated the Iowa and Kansas rallies despite questioning the merits of his remaining in-person stops in its midterm campaign coverage.
MLive reported the telephone events will stretch across 19 states, including Michigan, ahead of the Nov. 3 general election according to the outlet's tracking of Trump's schedule.
Record early voting as both parties make closing arguments
More than 49 million Americans had already cast ballots by Friday, according to Reuters, putting early turnout ahead of the total recorded before the 2022 midterms. All 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats are on the ballot.
Democrats are pushing to retake the House and make gains in the Senate. Republicans are working to hold both chambers, with Trump carrying the message that complacency is the party's biggest enemy.
At a Friday rally in Daytona Beach, Florida, his second in the state that week, Trump warned supporters against assuming victory.
You got to vote. Bad things happen when you get too confident, right? So let's pretend they're one point down.
Michigan Democrats fight among themselves
While Republicans close ranks, Democrats in Michigan are dealing with a public split. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed's campaign asked his former primary rival, Haley Stevens, to stay away from his remaining events, throwing a planned joint appearance in Detroit on Sunday into doubt, according to a source cited by CNN.
Stevens, who narrowly lost the primary to El-Sayed this summer, has called on him to apologize for past remarks about Israel. El-Sayed on Friday accused her of being intent on relitigating a contest that is already over instead of focusing on the general election against Republican Mike Rogers.
The feud threatens Democratic efforts to unify the coalition in a state central to their hopes of flipping the Senate. It also shows how contested primaries can leave wounds that never fully heal when foreign policy disagreements bleed into a campaign.
Alaska Senate race clouded by ballot investigation
In Alaska, the Senate race between Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola faces an added layer of turmoil. Federal and state investigators are examining an alleged scheme to recruit a retired teacher named Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. onto the ballot, reportedly to confuse voters and siphon support from the incumbent senator. Peltola's campaign denies any involvement, and no one has been charged.
Reuters reported the U.S. Justice Department has stepped up its investigation and is pursuing legal action to stop Alaska from certifying the Senate result if Sullivan loses. At his Florida rally, Trump said Attorney General Todd Blanche would decide on his own whether Peltola should face prosecution, while also calling for her removal from the ballot.
Alaska's ranked-choice voting and mail-in ballots could delay a final result for weeks, adding uncertainty to a race with consequences for Senate control.
What happens next
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Trump's tele-rallies run Saturday, followed by the reinstated Iowa and Kansas rallies Sunday. Iowans can expect the Hinson-Turek race to remain front and center as both parties pour final resources into the state through the weekend.
FAQ
When is Trump campaigning in Iowa?
President Trump is scheduled to hold in-person rallies in Iowa and Kansas on Sunday, Nov. 1, after holding nearly 20 telephone rallies across 19 states on Saturday.
Who are the Iowa Senate candidates?
Republican Ashley Hinson is running against Democrat Josh Turek in Iowa's U.S. Senate contest.
When is Election Day for the 2026 midterms?
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, with all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats on the ballot.