Former President Donald Trump concluded his final sprint to the midterm elections on Sunday with a pair of rallies in Iowa and Kansas. His appearances come as a new poll predicts a potential "blue tsunami" for Democrats.
A late-breaking New York Times/Siena poll revealed that Democrats have an advantage in all seven crucial Senate races, including in the two states where Trump held rallies. The former president had aimed to use his extensive rally schedule to bolster Republican candidates and prevent widespread Democratic gains in the House and Senate.
In Dubuque, Iowa, Trump spoke for over two hours, endorsing GOP Senate hopeful Representative Ashley Hinson. During his speech, he commented on Hinson's past weight, noting that she "put herself in shape" for her constituents. The rally also featured Trump addressing Michigan Democratic Representative Haley Stevens' endorsement of Republican Senate hopeful Mike Rogers over Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed, a move that led to Stevens' expulsion from the Michigan Democratic Party. Trump reiterated his previous criticisms of El-Sayed, referring to the Senate needing a "metal detector" for the Muslim Democrat.
Trump's second rally in Salina, Kansas, also extended for over an hour. He campaigned for Senator Roger Marshall, who faces a competitive reelection bid. During this rally, Trump criticized Democratic figures such as El-Sayed and Representative Ilhan Omar. He also repeated a promise of $5,000 checks for Americans if Republicans win the midterms. Kansas Senator Roger Marshall and Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared onstage with Trump at the Kansas rally. At the close of his rally, Trump danced to the song "YMCA."
These final rallies occurred after their initial cancellation and subsequent rescheduling. Trump's speech in Iowa reportedly lasted over two hours, approaching his personal rally speech record. House Speaker Mike Johnson also spoke at the Iowa rally, encouraging the crowd to disregard the polls and praising Trump's stamina.
As Trump concludes his campaign trail appearances, polls suggest Democrats are positioned to potentially flip the House of Representatives, needing only three additional seats. The New York Times/Siena poll indicated Democratic leads in Senate races in Kansas, Texas, Maine, Ohio, and Michigan, with narrower leads in Iowa and Alaska.