10 million extra ballots cast as Trump reverses Iowa and Kansas rally cancellations

President Donald Trump has reinstated two campaign rallies in Iowa and Kansas for this Sunday, a last-minute shift in his schedule that occurs as early voting numbers spike across the country. A person familiar with the plans confirmed the changes, noting that both events had previously been removed from the itinerary. The decision to hold in-person events comes after the Republican National Committee announced the president would instead participate in telerallies to reach a wider audience.

According to an Associated Press analysis of voting data, nearly 10 million more Americans had cast ballots five days before Election Day than at the same point in the 2022 midterm cycle. The increase is particularly sharp in states with competitive Senate races. In Iowa and Kansas, early voting figures are up roughly 30% compared to four years ago.

The schedule changes follow a period of uncertainty regarding the president’s health and stamina. On Thursday, while returning to Washington from South Carolina, Trump addressed the initial cancellation of his Kansas stop. He told a reporter, “I’m not going to Kansas because he’s doing very well,” referring to Senate candidate Roger Marshall. He added, “I feel perfect” and stated, “I don’t feel I have to go to Kansas.”

The original plan had Trump visiting Salina, Kansas, on Saturday and Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday. That timeline collapsed as the RNC proposed a “72-hour sprint” of phone rallies. Under the new arrangement, the Sunday Iowa event will move to Cedar Rapids. The Kansas rally remains on the schedule for the same weekend, though specific details regarding its new location were not immediately confirmed in the same release.

Both states hold Senate races that will determine if Republicans maintain their narrow majority in the chamber. Trump visited both states earlier this month to support Marshall in Kansas and Ashley Hinson, the Republican candidate in Iowa who currently serves in the House.

During a Friday interview with a Kansas City radio station, Trump called Marshall “fantastic” and praised the senator for advocating for Kansas farmers, specifically on expanding the tax-free use of red-dyed diesel. He criticized Marshall’s Democratic opponent, Adam Hamilton, as a “radical” who has “caused turmoil with the church because he’s so liberal.”

Hamilton responded to the criticism by suggesting that if Jesus were present today, Marshall would label him “woke.” The dynamic in Kansas mirrors the broader midterm contest, where both parties believe the surge in early voting favors their base. Republicans have expressed concern that voter dissatisfaction with high costs and the president’s unpopularity could suppress turnout among their voters.

National early voting trends show similar patterns in other battlegrounds. In Texas, more than 6.3 million voters cast ballots early as of Wednesday, a 50% increase over the 4.2 million reported at the same point in 2022. Maine, Michigan, and North Carolina also saw advance voting rise by more than 30%. In South Carolina, which is selecting a successor to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, early voting is up 83%.

Political spending has reached historic levels as candidates compete for these early votes. The surge in participation complicates the narrative for both parties. Democrats argue that affordability is driving voters to the polls, while Republicans contend that the increased turnout will benefit their Senate candidates in key states like Iowa and Kansas.

Trump has headlined 25 rallies in October as part of a marathon effort to shore up Republican candidates. The shift back to in-person events in the Midwest suggests a strategy to directly address voters in states where the margin of victory is expected to be tight. The next scheduled stop for the president is the Cedar Rapids rally on Sunday.