Trump Rallies as Senate Control Slips

President Donald Trump is making his final campaign stops in Iowa and Kansas as the Republican Party scrambles to hold its majorities in both chambers of Congress. Democrats, who have shown growing confidence in their chances, are facing a sudden internal split in Michigan that could jeopardize their primary goal of retaking the U.S. Senate.

The president spent two hours speaking to a crowd in Dubuque, Iowa, earlier on Sunday. He is now traveling to Salina, Kansas, to hold another rally. These stops come as Republicans in both states face strong challenges from Democratic opponents. The stakes are high because the House majority is already considered at risk for the GOP.

In Iowa, Trump projected that his party would win decisively on Tuesday. "We’re going to elect ‘America first’ Republicans up and down the line," he told supporters. With more than 54 million votes already cast in the midterms, the rallies mark a defensive strategy by the GOP. The campaign has become a direct test of Trump’s second term as voters question the economic impact of his tariffs and the war in Iran.

The political environment has shifted sharply since 2024. That year, Trump focused on flipping states that supported Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. This year, he is concentrating on states he previously dominated. This approach reflects a strategy to rally his most loyal voters rather than persuade swing voters in new territories.

While Trump rallies, Democrats in Michigan are dealing with a fracture in their Senate campaign. Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee, is facing a challenge from his former primary opponent, Haley Stevens. Stevens, a congresswoman who has criticized El-Sayed for not supporting Israel enough, appeared with Republican Mike Rogers at a church service on Sunday. She later announced her endorsement of Rogers.

"Our Democratic nominee for Senate said I was no longer welcome in his campaign and that I should stay away," Stevens said in a video announcement. "And he’s right. And that’s why I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today." She claimed an invitation to a Democratic event was rescinded after she voiced her criticism of El-Sayed.

The endorsement forced other Democratic leaders to quickly reaffirm their backing for El-Sayed. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said the party was "united in our support." Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, who leads the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, stated the party would "stand firmly" behind El-Sayed. She added that Democrats would "reject any efforts to divide" their ranks.

Bernie Sanders, a senior supporter of El-Sayed from Vermont, dismissed the idea of a deep divide. On CBS’ "Face the Nation," he said, "Haley Stevens lost a very, very close primary. I can understand being upset about that." He added, "But from what I can see, all over the state, people are standing up, they’re gonna stand with Abdul."

Michigan is a critical seat for the Democrats. If they lose that race on Tuesday, they will face much harder challenges in deep red states like Texas, Ohio, and Kansas. The loss would put additional pressure on their strategy to retake the Senate.

The closing days of the campaign have also tested the relationship between Trump and the Republican establishment. Jon Lutz, a 60-year-old civil engineer from Dubuque, attended his first Trump rally on Sunday. He said he is happy with the president’s record and wants Republicans to keep control so Trump’s agenda can advance. "He’s done what he’s said he’s going to do," Lutz said. "I want him to keep going."