Trump adds Iowa and Kansas rallies as early voting jumps 30%
The president reversed a plan for phone-in events after receiving calls from local officials, a shift occurring amid a record surge in advance ballots.
By Ana Castro ·
President Donald Trump will hold in-person campaign rallies in Iowa and Kansas on Sunday, reversing a decision made earlier in the week to replace those events with remote appearances. The change comes as early voting numbers surge nationwide, with nearly 10 million more Americans casting ballots five days before the election than at the same point in 2022.
The president stated that he received calls from friends in those states who told him that if he could travel, he would be better than a telerally. This last-minute schedule adjustment places him in Salina, Kansas, and Dubuque, Iowa, for back-to-back events. The RNC had initially planned a 72-hour sprint of phone rallies to reach a wider audience, but the plans shifted as the election date approaches.
Early voting increases are particularly pronounced in states with competitive Senate races. In Iowa and Kansas, advance voting is up roughly 30% compared to the same period four years ago. Both states feature battleground Senate contests that will help determine whether Republicans retain their narrow majority in the chamber during these midterm elections.
Trump has already visited both states this month to support Republican candidates. In Kansas, he is backing Sen. Roger Marshall for reelection. In Iowa, he is supporting Ashley Hinson, a current House member running for the Senate. The president told a Kansas City radio station on Friday that Marshall is fantastic and credited the senator for pushing administration policies that benefit Kansas farmers, such as expanding tax-free use of red-dyed diesel.
The political stakes remain high as both parties hope the rise in turnout favors their candidates. The election has centered on affordability issues and the president's unpopularity. Trump has headlined 25 rallies so far in October, including a stop in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Friday night. His schedule remained in flux until recently, with his Iowa appearance moving from Dubuque to Cedar Rapids and back to Dubuque within hours.
Context for the surge in voting includes historic amounts of money flowing into this year's midterms. Republicans have expressed concern that their voters might not turn out amid dissatisfaction with Trump and high costs, while Democrats have focused their campaigns on those same economic issues. In Texas, more than 6.3 million people had voted early as of Wednesday, a 50% increase over the same point four years ago.
Other states with competitive Senate races also show strong growth in advance voting. Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, and Kansas all saw increases of more than 30%. In South Carolina, where voters are choosing a successor to late Sen. Lindsey Graham, early voting is up 83%. These numbers underscore the intense competition for control of Congress as the final days before the election unfold.
