U.S. President Donald Trump launched a seven-state campaign tour on Monday, focusing on Republican-leaning areas he won decisively in the 2024 election, as concerns grow over potential Democratic gains in the November 3 midterm elections. Speaking near Wichita, Kansas, Trump urged supporters to turn out and back Senator Roger Marshall, who faces a tight race against Methodist megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton.
With just over two weeks remaining before Election Day, Trump emphasized voter turnout as crucial for success. He reiterated his campaign promises to end the ongoing war with Iran, make his tax cuts permanent, and promote economic prosperity. Trump had won Kansas by 16 percentage points in 2024, and the state has not elected a Democratic senator since 1932. However, political analysts now classify the Kansas Senate race as a toss-up, signaling growing uncertainty even in long-standing Republican strongholds.
Republican fundraising priorities reflect this shift. A key GOP senator support group has redirected funds from North Carolina—a state traditionally considered safe—to more competitive races. Control of Congress remains precarious, with Republicans holding narrow majorities in both chambers and Democrats needing to gain just four Senate seats to take control.
Following Kansas, Trump’s itinerary includes rallies in the Carolinas, Iowa, Florida, Georgia, and Michigan—all states he carried in 2024, though some by narrow margins. The focus appears to be energizing the Republican base rather than persuading undecided voters, as midterm turnout tends to be lower among the president’s supporters when he is not on the ballot. Two of the stops—North Carolina and Iowa—are viewed as efforts to defend endangered Republican seats, with party leaders having largely conceded North Carolina.
While Republicans are on the defensive in some areas, they continue to press for gains elsewhere, including a Democratic-held Senate seat in Michigan, though progress remains uneven in states like Georgia. Vice President JD Vance is campaigning independently in North Carolina, Ohio, and Nebraska, where a Republican senator confronts a strong independent challenger.
Recent polls paint a challenging picture for Republicans and Trump. A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos survey released Sunday showed Trump’s approval rating at 33 percent, the lowest recorded for him in that poll, with 66 percent disapproval. An NBC News survey offered similar results. Likely voters preferred Democrats over Republicans for Congress by eight to ten points in these polls, suggesting a possible Democratic wave. However, analysts caution that national polling does not directly translate into seat outcomes, especially given recent partisan redistricting.
Economic factors appear to weigh heavily on the election outlook for Republicans. Despite Trump’s promises to lower costs, fuel prices have surged following U.S. involvement in conflict with Iran, and tariffs have added pressure on consumers, including farmers in key agricultural states such as Iowa and Kansas. Immigration, traditionally a strength for Trump, faces growing resistance; 56 percent of surveyed voters view his deportation policies as excessive. Democrats are capitalizing on these issues to boost fundraising efforts.
Early voting is already underway, with more than nine million ballots cast nationwide. In Texas, Democrat James Talarico recorded a fundraising haul of approximately $64 million in the third quarter, a record for a Senate candidate, significantly outpacing Republican Ken Paxton’s $18 million. Similar patterns are evident in House races, where dozens of Republican incumbents have been outraised by Democratic or independent challengers.
Republicans are increasingly relying on outside groups funded by high-profile donors such as Elon Musk, who has contributed roughly $366 million this cycle, including $158 million to Paxton. As election day nears, both parties intensify efforts to secure control of Congress amid a highly competitive and closely watched midterm contest.