Trump Adds Iowa and Kansas Rallies to Weekend Amid Early Vote Surge
The president reversed earlier plans for phone events after receiving calls from state allies, as advance voting figures outpace 2022 levels in key Senate races.
By Tunde Bailey ·
President Donald Trump added two in-person campaign rallies to his schedule for Sunday, returning to Iowa and Kansas to support Republican Senate candidates. The decision reversed plans announced earlier in the week for a series of tele-rallies, a change Trump attributed to direct requests from political allies in both states. He stated that friends in Iowa and Kansas called to tell him that a physical presence would be more effective than a remote broadcast.
The schedule shift occurs while early voting data shows a sharp increase in voter participation compared to the 2022 midterm election. An Associated Press analysis found that nearly 10 million more Americans had cast ballots by October 25 than at the same point four years prior. The rise is most pronounced in states with competitive Senate races, including Iowa and Kansas, where early voting is up by approximately 30%.
Trump’s original itinerary had him in Salina, Kansas, on Saturday and Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday. Those events were initially canceled in favor of a 72-hour sprint of phone rallies designed to reach a wider national audience, according to the Republican National Committee. Plans fluctuated on Friday, with the Iowa stop moving from Dubuque to Cedar Rapids before reverting to Dubuque hours later. The RNC confirmed the final schedule for both in-person events.
The president defended the change on Thursday, rejecting reports that fatigue or health concerns prompted the initial cancellation. He told reporters he felt perfect and noted that Republican Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas was performing well. Trump also described Marshall as fantastic and credited the senator for advocating for policies that benefit Kansas farmers, such as expanding the tax-free use of red-dyed diesel.
In Kansas, Trump is supporting Marshall against Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton, a Methodist pastor. Trump characterized Hamilton as a radical who has caused turmoil in the church due to his liberal views. Hamilton has responded by suggesting that if Jesus were present today, Marshall would label him woke.
In Iowa, Trump is aiding Republican Senate candidate Ashley Hinson, a current member of the House, in a race that will influence the final makeup of the Senate. Both parties view the high volume of early ballots as a critical factor in the fight for congressional control, with Democrats emphasizing affordability and Republicans focused on driving turnout among their base.
Early voting numbers in other key states also exceed 2022 levels. In Texas, more than 6.3 million voters cast ballots by Wednesday, a 50% increase over the same period four years ago. Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, and Kansas also saw increases of more than 30%, while South Carolina, voting to replace the late Senator Lindsey Graham, reported an 83% rise in early votes.
