President Donald Trump held a two-hour campaign rally in Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday, November 1, 2026, as part of a final series of appearances before the midterm elections. During the event, Trump predicted that Republicans would achieve victories in Tuesday's elections, stating the party would elect "America first" candidates "up and down the line." Following the Iowa event, the president was traveling to Salina, Kansas, to continue campaigning in states he has handily won in the past.
The rallies occurred as Republicans worked to maintain their majorities in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. While Trump focused on mobilizing his base in Iowa and Kansas, Democrats faced internal friction in Michigan. Rep. Haley Stevens, a Democrat, endorsed Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers on Sunday after stating that she was no longer welcome in the campaign of Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed. This endorsement followed a primary race between Stevens and El-Sayed.
Democratic leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, issued statements reiterating their support for El-Sayed. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) also addressed the development on CBS' "Face the Nation," characterizing the endorsement as a result of Stevens losing a close primary but expressing confidence that voters would stand with El-Sayed. Meanwhile, outgoing Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) raised concerns that the president's use of tariffs could negatively impact the party's performance in the Midwest.
The outcome of these midterm elections will determine which party controls the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. In states like Iowa and Kansas, the results will decide whether Republicans retain seats facing Democratic challenges, while the Michigan Senate race is central to Democratic efforts to gain a majority in that chamber. If Democrats fail to secure the Michigan seat, they would face additional pressure to win races in other states such as Texas, Kansas, Ohio, or Iowa.
Midwest residents have expressed differing views on the administration’s policies. A civil engineer in Dubuque expressed support for Trump's record, while a retail worker from Burlington said she did not blame the president for gas and grocery prices. With more than 54 million votes already cast as of November 1, 2026, a significant portion of the electorate has participated in the process ahead of Election Day on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
The shift in campaign focus toward traditionally Republican states suggests a defensive strategy by the GOP in the final days of the cycle. Following the election, Rep. Bacon predicted there will be a debate in the Republican Party regarding its future if the party experiences significant losses. Results will begin to be reported after polls close on Tuesday evening.