Trump swaps telerallies for in-person events in Iowa and Kansas
The president reversed his weekend plans after early voting numbers jumped 30% in two key Senate battlegrounds.
By Julia Novak ·
President Donald Trump changed his mind about his weekend travel plans. He will now hold in-person rallies in Iowa and Kansas. This decision reverses a prior plan to conduct phone-based events from Washington.
The shift comes as early voting numbers surge ahead of Election Day. An Associated Press analysis shows that nearly 10 million more Americans cast ballots this year compared to the same period in 2022. The increase is particularly steep in states with competitive Senate races.
Trump said he received calls from friends in Iowa and Kansas. He stated that they told him he would be better than a telerally if he came in person. The president scheduled stops in Salina, Kansas, and Dubuque, Iowa, for Sunday.
These two states feature critical Senate contests. Republicans need to maintain their narrow majority in the chamber. In Kansas, Senator Roger Marshall seeks reelection. In Iowa, Republican candidate Ashley Hinson faces a competitive race.
Early voting in both Iowa and Kansas is up roughly 30 percent from the same point four years ago. In Texas, more than 6.3 million residents voted early as of Wednesday. That figure exceeds the 4.2 million who voted early in the 2022 midterm election.
Other states with close Senate races also saw large jumps. Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, and Kansas all recorded increases of more than 30 percent. South Carolina, which is selecting a successor to the late Senator Lindsey Graham, saw early voting rise by 83 percent.
Trump pushed back against questions about why he initially canceled his in-person stops. He told reporters he does not feel he has to go because Marshall is doing well. He described his health as perfect and said he feels great.
The schedule for the weekend fluctuated on Friday. Plans for the Iowa stop moved from Dubuque to Cedar Rapids and then back to Dubuque. The Republican National Committee confirmed the final itinerary for both states.
Trump has already visited both states this month. He praised Marshall as fantastic and credited him for pushing the administration on policies for farmers. He criticized Marshall’s opponent, Adam Hamilton, as a radical who caused turmoil in the church.
