Trump cancels weekend campaign rallies in Kansas and Iowa, opts for virtual events

President Donald Trump canceled planned final-weekend campaign rallies in Salina, Kansas, and Dubuque, Iowa, opting instead to conduct a virtual sprint of over 20 tele-rallies across 19 states before Election Day. The campaign shift comes as Republicans encounter significant midterm challenges driven by high living costs, approval ratings around 32%, and a tight Kansas Senate race where Democrat Adam Hamilton leads GOP incumbent Roger Marshall 49% to 45%.

Shift to virtual campaign tele-rallies

• ▪President Donald Trump canceled scheduled in-person campaign rallies in Salina, Kansas, and Dubuque, Iowa, during the final weekend before the 2026 midterm elections
• ▪Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters stated that Trump's 72-hour virtual tele-rally sprint will maximize Donald Trump's reach to voters across 19 states before Election Day
• ▪Donald Trump will replace in-person events with a series of over 20 virtual tele-rallies across multiple states

Trump addresses health and stamina concerns

• ▪Donald Trump defended canceling his Kansas event by asserting that Senator Roger Marshall was doing well, while rebuffing questions about his health and physical stamina
• ▪Donald Trump acknowledged that campaigning at 25 rallies over the past month had been demanding on his voice, but stated his physical health was very good

Kansas Senate race dynamics

• ▪In the Kansas Senate race, Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton led incumbent Republican Senator Roger Marshall 49 percent to 45 percent in an October 2026 CNN/SSRS poll
• ▪Kansas has not elected a Democratic U.S. senator since 1939

Midterm headwinds for Republicans

• ▪Republicans face midterm electoral headwinds from voter discontent over rising living costs, federal debt exceeding 100 percent of GDP, and the ongoing war with Iran
• ▪A October 2026 Reuters/Ipsos survey found Donald Trump's public approval rating standing at approximately 32 percent