Trump adds Iowa and Kansas stops to weekend campaign schedule
The president reversed prior cancellations to hold in-person rallies in two states with competitive Senate races as early voting numbers rise.
By Natalie Cooper ·
President Donald Trump will hold campaign rallies in Iowa and Kansas on Sunday, a last-minute change to his weekend itinerary. A person familiar with the plans said the stops had previously been canceled but were restored to support Republican candidates in two critical Senate races. The schedule shift occurs as early voting surges across the country.
The president initially planned a 72-hour sprint of phone rallies, or telerallies, to reach voters nationwide. The Republican National Committee announced that change after the in-person events were dropped. Now, the telerallies have been rearranged to fit around the return of the physical stops. Trump will speak in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a location change from his original plan for Dubuque.
On Thursday, Trump defended the decision to reinstate the trips. He pushed back against reports that fatigue or health concerns drove the initial cancellation of the Kansas event. The president said he felt perfect and that he did not feel compelled to visit Kansas because his candidate was performing well. He referenced Senator Roger Marshall, the Republican seeking reelection in that state.
Voters in both states are deciding Senate races that will determine if Republicans keep their narrow majority in the chamber. Early voting in Iowa and Kansas is up roughly 30% compared to the same point in 2022. Nationally, nearly 10 million more Americans cast ballots five days before Election Day than in the previous midterm cycle.
Trump has already visited both states this month to support Marshall and Iowa Senate candidate Ashley Hinson. In a Friday interview, Trump called Marshall fantastic and credited him for policies helping Kansas farmers, such as expanding the tax-free use of red-dyed diesel. He also criticized Marshall’s Democratic challenger, Adam Hamilton, as a radical who has caused turmoil in the church.
The spike in advance voting is pronounced in states with competitive races. In Texas, more than 6.3 million voters had cast ballots early as of Wednesday, a 50% increase over four years ago. Early voting is also up more than 30% in Maine, Michigan, and North Carolina. In South Carolina, where voters are choosing a successor to the late Lindsey Graham, early voting is up 83%.
Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune
