Trump returns to Iowa and Kansas for weekend rallies

President Donald Trump will hold campaign rallies in Iowa and Kansas on Sunday, reversing earlier decisions to cancel both events. The schedule change places the president in two states with competitive Senate races just days before Election Day.

The rallies were initially dropped from the president's itinerary. The Republican National Committee announced at the time that Trump would instead conduct telerallies to reach voters. The RNC described the original plan as a 72-hour sprint of phone rallies.

The decision to return to in-person campaigning coincides with a sharp increase in early voting. An Associated Press analysis of voting data shows that nearly 10 million more Americans cast ballots five days before Election Day this year than at the same point in 2022. The surge is particularly pronounced in states with tight Senate contests.

In Kansas, early voting is up roughly 30 percent compared to the same point in 2022. Iowa has seen a similar increase of about 30 percent. Other states with competitive Senate races, including Maine, Michigan, and North Carolina, have also reported early voting increases of more than 30 percent. In South Carolina, where voters are selecting a successor to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, early voting is up 83 percent.

Trump spoke on Thursday about the initial cancellation of his Kansas stop. He addressed a reporter who asked if the change was due to fatigue or health issues. The president said he did not feel the need to visit Kansas because Republican Sen. Roger Marshall was performing well. Trump stated that he feels perfect and does not believe he has to go to Kansas.

The specific locations for the weekend events shifted on Friday. Trump was originally scheduled to visit Salina, Kansas, on Saturday and Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday. A person familiar with the planning, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Iowa stop was briefly moved to Cedar Rapids before returning to Dubuque hours later. The RNC confirmed the final locations as Salina and Dubuque.

The president has already visited both states this month. He campaigned for Marshall in Kansas and for Republican Senate candidate Ashley Hinson in Iowa. Hinson currently serves in the House of Representatives. In a Friday interview with a Kansas City radio station, Trump called Marshall fantastic. He credited the senator for pushing administration policies that benefit Kansas farmers, such as expanding the tax-free use of red-dyed diesel.

Trump also discussed Marshall's Democratic opponent, Adam Hamilton. Hamilton is a Methodist pastor. The president called Hamilton radical and said the pastor caused turmoil in the church because he is so liberal. Hamilton responded to the criticism by suggesting that if Jesus were present now, Marshall would call him woke.

The surge in advance voting has raised hopes for both parties. Democrats and Republicans each believe the increase in turnout may favor their candidates. The elections have focused on affordability issues and the president's unpopularity. Trump promised a marathon of rallies at the start of October to support Republican candidates. He has headlined 25 such events in the state so far.

Money is also flowing into these midterm elections at historic rates. Republicans have expressed concern that their voters may not turn out due to dissatisfaction with Trump and high costs. Democrats have focused their campaigns on these same issues. The outcome of the Senate races in Iowa and Kansas will help determine whether Republicans maintain their narrow majority in the chamber.