Trump targets Iowa and Kansas in final push for GOP congressional hold

More than 52 million votes have been cast ahead of Tuesday's election, according to campaign officials. President Donald Trump is using his final weekend to campaign in Iowa and Kansas. He aims to help Republicans defend their current majorities in the Senate and the House.

Trump’s first stop is Sunday afternoon in Dubuque, Iowa. The 2nd Congressional District, which includes that city, has become a competitive race. Republicans are working to protect a fragile majority in the House while battling to hold the state's Senate seat. The governor's office is also at stake in that state.

He will end his final campaign weekend with a visit to Salina, Kansas. Democrat Adam Hamilton is running to become the first Kansas Democrat to win a Senate seat in 94 years. Trump’s appearance is intended to support the local Republican candidate in that contest.

The President took a one-day break on Saturday before returning to the circuit. Republicans initially canceled both the Iowa and Kansas stops. They abruptly rescheduled the events as Trump works to preserve a Senate majority that is at risk of slipping away.

The strategy marks a shift from the 2024 presidential campaign. In 2024, Trump focused on flipping states that had previously backed Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. This year, he has largely focused on states he has dominated in the past. Voters, including previous supporters, are questioning the economic fallout of his decision to impose tariffs and launch the war in Iran.

Democrats face their own challenges in the final days of the campaign. They are attempting to regain congressional majorities while defending a Senate seat in Michigan. Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed is spending the final days in a public feud with one of his primary opponents, Rep. Haley Stevens. The conflict threatens to divide the party heading into the election.