President Donald Trump announced on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, that he will resume campaign rallies in Iowa and Kansas this weekend. The announcement marks a reversal from earlier in the week when the Republican National Committee (RNC) indicated the in-person events would be replaced by "telerallies," or phone-based campaign events. The president is now scheduled to hold rallies in both states on Sunday, Nov. 1.
The shift in scheduling comes as data shows an increase in advance voting for the 2026 midterm elections. According to an Associated Press analysis, approximately 10 million more Americans had cast ballots five days before Election Day than at the same point during the 2022 midterms. Early participation has risen by roughly 30% in both Iowa and Kansas, where competitive Senate races are expected to help determine which party controls the chamber.
On Thursday, Oct. 29, the president addressed the initial cancellations, stating he did not feel he had to go to Kansas because Republican Sen. Roger Marshall was "doing very well." Trump also dismissed suggestions that the schedule changes were related to fatigue, stating he felt "perfect." The RNC later confirmed that the in-person Sunday appearances would proceed in Dubuque, Iowa, and Salina, Kansas.
In Kansas, Trump has focused his support on Marshall, citing policies that benefited agricultural workers. He has characterized Marshall's opponent, Methodist pastor Adam Hamilton (D), as a "radical." In Iowa, Trump is campaigning for Republican Senate candidate Rep. Ashley Hinson. Both states are central to the Republican effort to maintain a narrow majority in the Senate, while Democrats have focused their campaigns on issues of affordability and the president's approval ratings.
In Texas, more than 6.3 million people had voted early as of Wednesday, Oct. 28—a 50% increase compared with the same point four years ago.
In Michigan, another state with a competitive Senate race, Abdul El-Sayed (D) is facing criticism from his former primary rival, Rep. Haley Stevens. Stevens on Friday called on El-Sayed to condemn an advertisement linking U.S. support for Israel to rising grocery prices. Following the Sunday rallies, the midterm cycle concludes on Tuesday, Nov. 3, when polls close.