Trump Rallies in Dubuque as Midterm Campaign Enters Final Stretch
President Donald Trump spent Sunday campaigning in Dubuque, Iowa, rallying supporters in a state he has handily won in the past as the final hours of a turbulent midterm election ticked down. Trump delivered a two-hour address at the Five Flags Event Center before departing for Salina, Kansas, pushing to secure Republican majorities in both the House and the Senate.
With more than 54 million ballots already cast nationwide, the closing itinerary shows a defensive posture for the GOP. Unlike the 2024 campaign, when Trump worked to flip states that had previously backed Democrat Joe Biden in 2020, this final push has centered heavily on regions where his past dominance is now colliding with voter anxiety over the economic fallout of his decision to impose tariffs and launch the war in Iran.
Democratic Fracture in Michigan Shakes Up Senate Race
While Republicans worked to shore up their margins in the Midwest, a significant fracture broke open within the Democratic Party in Michigan. Haley Stevens, a congresswoman who previously challenged Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed in the primary, appeared at a church service alongside Republican candidate Mike Rogers and formally endorsed his campaign.
During his Dubuque address, Trump pointed to Stevens' crossover endorsement as a development. I don’t know Haley. I’ve never met Haley. But Haley said what few people were willing to say,
Trump told the rallygoers, adding that he would welcome her into the Republican Party.
Stakes in Iowa and Divergent Campaigning Styles
In Iowa, the political atmosphere remains fiercely competitive. Trump used the Dubuque stage to champion the state’s GOP Senate candidate, Ashley Hinson, insisting that Republicans were on the verge of sweeping victories on Tuesday. Trump also offered candid commentary on Hinson’s recent weight loss, praising her for going on a regimen without the use of GLP-1 drugs.
Voter sentiment in the Hawkeye State reflected the polarized environment. Jon Lutz, a 60-year-old civil engineer attending the Dubuque rally, expressed support for the president’s second-term record. He’s done what he’s said he’s going to do,
Lutz said. I want him to keep going.
Meanwhile, Wendy Kuenzler, a 44-year-old first-time rally attendee from Burlington, voiced optimism regarding the state of the economy. While acknowledging rising gas and grocery prices, Kuenzler stated she believed the administration was on the path to correcting it.
On the opposing side, Iowa Democrats maintained an aggressive closing schedule, with gubernatorial nominee Rob Sand holding multiple events across the state on Sunday to counter the Republican momentum.
Internal GOP Divisions Over Economic Policy
The closing days of the campaign have laid bare strategic divisions within the broader Republican coalition. Don Bacon, R-Nebraska, appeared on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday to voice caution regarding the political viability of the administration’s trade strategy. Tariffs are not popular here in the Midwest,
Bacon said. I tried telling the president that.
Bacon further predicted internal party debates if Republicans suffer substantial losses at the ballot box.
Conversely, Tim Scott, of South Carolina, chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, maintained an optimistic outlook during an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press. Embracing the referendum nature of the contest, Scott asserted confidence in the party’s ability to retain control of the Senate and declared that Trump’s agenda was firmly on the ballot.
