Trump targets Iowa and Kansas as Republicans defend House and Senate

President Donald Trump is concluding his final weekend of campaigning in two states he has previously won by wide margins.

The president scheduled a rally for Sunday afternoon in Dubuque, Iowa, where Republicans are defending a competitive Senate seat and the governorship. The 2nd Congressional District, which includes Dubuque, has also become a focal point as the party works to protect its slim majority in the House. Trump will end the final pre-election weekend with a visit to Salina, Kansas, where Democrat Adam Hamilton is running for the Senate. Hamilton seeks to become the first Kansas Democrat to win that office in 94 years.

The campaign reflects a defensive posture for the Republican Party. In 2024, Trump focused on flipping states that supported Joe Biden in 2020. This year, the president has prioritized states where he holds strong historical support. Voters, including some former allies, are questioning the economic impact of his tariffs and the war in Iran. More than 52 million votes have already been cast in this election.

Democrats face their own challenges in Michigan, a critical state for their effort to retake the Senate. Nominee Abdul El-Sayed is engaged in a public dispute with former primary opponent Rep. Haley Stevens. Stevens, who criticized El-Sayed for insufficient support of Israel, appeared with Republican rival Mike Rogers at a separate church event instead of joining a planned joint appearance with El-Sayed and Rep. Jim Clyburn. Stevens' fiancé stated last week that he is voting for Rogers, claiming El-Sayed did not address Jewish community concerns adequately. Rep. Debbie Dingell, who helped organize the original event, said she asked Stevens to stay home and was told she would comply.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, a key supporter of El-Sayed, dismissed fears of a divided Democratic Party on CBS' Face the Nation. He noted that Stevens lost a close primary and expressed confidence that voters across the state would stand with El-Sayed. If Democrats lose the Michigan seat, they will need to win races in deeper Republican territory, including Texas, Kansas, Ohio, or Iowa, to take control of the Senate.

The final stretch of the campaign is testing the strength of Trump's influence within the Republican Party. Trump paused his rallies on Saturday to attend a Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, where he told guests the country has never done better. Outgoing Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska warned on CNN's State of the Union that tariffs are unpopular in the Midwest and could weigh on the party. He predicted a debate within the GOP about its future if losses are steep. Sen. Tim Scott, chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told NBC's Meet the Press that he is confident Republicans will keep the Senate and that Trump's agenda is central to the ballot.

Elections are scheduled for Tuesday.