President Donald Trump held a campaign rally at Butler High School in Vandalia, Ohio, on Saturday, October 3, 2026, to support Republican candidates ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. During his speech, Trump urged supporters to vote, stating that a Republican victory would allow the party to "shove it up their ass." The event focused on competitive races for the U.S. Senate and the Ohio governorship as the party seeks to maintain control of a narrowly divided Congress.
The rally occurred as Republican candidates face political challenges due to high gasoline prices and the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. In Ohio, U.S. Senator Jon Husted (R) is defending his seat against former Senator Sherrod Brown (D), while Vivek Ramaswamy (R) faces Amy Acton (D) in the gubernatorial race. Trump, who won more than 55% of the Ohio vote in 2024, has seen his approval ratings decline to 32% in recent months, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.
Trump argued that keeping Republicans in power would provide Ohio officials with direct access to federal funding. He stated he would be less inclined to assist the state if Democrats won, specifically naming Acton as someone he would not help. Trump also promoted his "Trump Dividend" plan, promising that a Republican victory would result in $5,000 for every adult U.S. citizen. Husted criticized Brown's 50-year career in office, while Brown’s campaign spokesperson, Lauren Chou, criticized Husted for supporting tax deals for data centers and Trump's Iran policy.
During the event, Trump addressed immigration and trade. He repeated a spoken-word routine called "The Snake" and claimed the town of Springfield, Ohio—which he described as having 32,000 residents—had taken in 35,000 migrants who are now "being removed." However, Census Bureau data indicates Springfield has 58,000 residents, with recent reports estimating the Haitian community at 12,000 to 15,000. Trump also discussed trade, as Canadian retaliatory tariffs currently affect approximately $3 billion in Ohio exports following his administration's trade policies.
Specifically, the "Trump Dividend" proposal would provide a one-time $5,000 payment to every adult U.S. citizen if Republicans retain control of Congress. However, Trump warned that a Democratic victory would lead to a "1929-style economic depression." In the workplace, some rallygoers noted they were encouraged by a 2025 policy that caps taxes on overtime pay. Meanwhile, Trump claimed that federal agencies currently employ too many unnecessary workers and should be reduced in size.
The Ohio Senate race is the second-most-expensive in the country, according to Federal Election Commission filings. Beyond local impacts, Trump characterized the midterms as a referendum on his presidency, asking supporters to "pretend I'm running." The general election occurs on November 3, 2026.