Trump rallies as GOP defends House

The final days of the midterm campaign have sharpened into a defensive struggle for the Republican Party. President Donald Trump is holding rallies in states he previously won by wide margins, while Democrats in Michigan risk splitting their base over a contested Senate race.

Trump begins his final weekend of campaigning on Sunday afternoon in Dubuque, Iowa. The state is a critical battleground where Republicans are trying to hold a competitive Senate seat and the governorship. The 2nd Congressional District, which includes Dubuque, has become tight as the GOP works to protect its thin majority in the House. He is scheduled to close the campaign on Tuesday in Salina, Kansas, where Democrat Adam Hamilton is challenging for a seat the party has not lost in 94 years.

These trips occur as more than 52 million votes have already been cast. The strategy marks a shift from the 2024 election, when Trump focused on flipping states that backed Joe Biden. This year, he is targeting his traditional strongholds. Voters, including some former supporters, are questioning the economic effects of his tariffs and the war in Iran.

Democrats face internal friction as they attempt to retake the Senate. In Michigan, nominee Abdul El-Sayed is in a public dispute with primary opponent Representative Haley Stevens. Stevens attended a church service with Republican Mike Rogers instead of joining El-Sayed and Representative Jim Clyburn. She criticized El-Sayed for not supporting Israel enough, and her fiancé announced he would vote for Rogers.

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, who organized the planned joint appearance, said she asked Stevens to skip the event. Stevens told her she would comply. Senator Bernie Sanders, a supporter of El-Sayed, downplayed the risk of a split. He told CBS that Stevens lost a close primary and could be upset, but that people across the state are standing with El-Sayed.

Michigan is essential to the Democratic effort. If they lose that seat on Tuesday, they will face tougher races in Texas, Kansas, Ohio, or Iowa to reclaim control. The campaign has become a test of Trump’s influence. He held more than two dozen rallies in October, though his speeches sometimes included detailed descriptions of male politicians' physiques.

Trump paused his tour on Saturday for a Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago. He told guests the country had never done better. Outgoing Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska warned that tariffs are unpopular in the Midwest. Senator Tim Scott, the Republican Senate campaign chair, remained confident that the party would keep the chamber, noting that Trump’s agenda is on the ballot.