Trump rallies in Iowa and Kansas as Democrats fracture in Michigan

President Donald Trump spent Sunday addressing voters in Dubuque, Iowa, before traveling to Salina, Kansas, attempting to secure Republican control of Congress in the final days of a turbulent election cycle. In Dubuque, he told a two-hour crowd that Republicans were poised for sweeping victories on Tuesday.

“We’re going to elect ‘America first’ Republicans up and down the line,” Trump said. More than 54 million votes had already been cast as the campaign shifted into a defensive posture for the GOP. The strategy focuses on states Trump previously dominated, a stark contrast to his 2024 campaign which targeted states that backed Joe Biden in 2020.

Voters are questioning the economic impact of Trump’s tariff policies and his decision to launch a war in Iran. In Dubuque, Jon Lutz, a 60-year-old civil engineer attending his first rally, said he is happy with the administration’s record. “He’s done what he’s said he’s going to do,” Lutz said. “I want him to keep going.” Wendy Kuenzler, a 44-year-old from Burlington, also attended for the first time and plans to support Senate nominee Ashley Hinson.

While Trump campaigns, Democrats face internal conflict in Michigan, a state critical to their effort to retake the Senate. Rep. Haley Stevens, who lost the Democratic primary to Abdul El-Sayed, endorsed Republican Mike Rogers on Sunday. Stevens cited an invitation to a Democratic event being rescinded as the reason for her switch.

“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 announcement. “And he’s right. And that’s why I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today.” The move forced party leaders to reassert their backing for El-Sayed. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the party was “united in our support.” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said Democrats would “stand firmly” behind El-Sayed and reject efforts to divide the party.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, a top supporter of El-Sayed, dismissed concerns about a split in the party. Speaking on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” Sanders noted that Stevens lost a very close primary. “But from what I can see, all over the state, people are standing up, they’re gonna stand with Abdul,” Sanders said. If Democrats lose Michigan on Tuesday, they face increased pressure to win seats in deeply Republican states like Texas, Ohio, and Kansas.

The midterms are testing the durability of Trump’s influence within a Republican Party he reshaped. Trump held more than two dozen rallies in October, events that were occasionally marked by his long asides and descriptions of the physiques of male politicians he supported. He paused his schedule Saturday for a Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago, where he told guests the country has never done better.

Outgoing Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska raised concerns on Sunday that Trump’s policies, specifically tariffs, could hurt the GOP. “Tariffs are not popular here in the Midwest,” Bacon told CNN’s “State of the Union.” He predicted a debate within the party if Republicans suffer major losses this week. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, expressed confidence that Republicans would keep the Senate. “His agenda, without any question, is on the ballot,” Scott told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Democratic candidates in Iowa are also campaigning heavily. Governor nominee Rob Sand held several events across the state on Sunday. The outcome of Tuesday's election will determine whether the White House retains its legislative alliance or faces a divided Congress in the coming term.