Full Breakdown
Trump’s Iowa Rally Tour Ahead of the 2026 Midterms
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Two Scheduled Iowa Stops
On October 22, 2026, President Donald Trump addressed a crowd at Sioux Gateway Airport in Sioux City. Doors opened at 2:30 p.m., the program began at 4 p.m., and Trump took the stage at 6 p.m. The Iowa GOP announced a second stop in Dubuque on November 1, with the same timetable. Both rallies are part of a week-long sprint aimed at energizing Republican voters before the November 3 midterm elections.
Background & Context
Trump carried Iowa by 13 points in 2024, but the 2026 midterms feature several competitive races. The open U.S. Senate seat pits Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson against Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek, a contest listed as a toss-up. Voters are concerned about high diesel and gasoline prices, lingering tariff effects, and the war in Iran, which have strained farm incomes and household budgets.
Data & Statistics
- National regular-gas price averages $4.26 per gallon; Iowa’s gasoline is $4.11.
- Diesel averages $6.30 nationally; Iowa’s diesel is $6.17.
- Early-voting data shows more than 18 million Americans have cast ballots.
- Poll snapshots of the Hinson-Turek race:
- Marist (Oct 8-11) – Turek 48 % vs. Hinson 45 %.
- Emerson (Oct 5-6) – Hinson 47 % vs. Turek 45 %.
- CNN/SSRS (Sept 29-Oct 5) – Hinson 45 % vs. Turek 43 %.
Official Statements & Responses
- Rep. Ashley Hinson called the war “a bad idea” and said a “successful end” must guarantee Iran never acquires a nuclear program.
- Republican pollster Whit Ayres warned that voters still perceive the economy as stagnant and inflation as high.
Criticism & Opposition
- Two Iowa Republicans—Reps. Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks—voted for a war-powers resolution, signaling dissent from the president’s Iran stance.
- Voter comments illustrate unease: Kay Pence, chair of the Scott County Democratic Party, noted strong turnout despite rain, while veteran Frank Holley warned the president’s actions are “on the verge of craziness.”
On-the-Ground Reports
- Christine Brenden, a Trump-supporting paralegal, said her gasoline bill rose from $40 to $60 per tank and warned that renewed strikes in Iran could push prices higher.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Approval ratings for Trump vary: a Times/Siena poll records 36 % approval, while a CNN/SSRS poll shows 32 %.
- The impact of the administration’s $8 billion farmer-aid package remains unclear; farmers interviewed report little relief, yet officials tout it as a solution to rising input costs.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Well in one way, they love it because I’m doing what should have been done by other presidents, and another way maybe they don’t. It’s — there’s a price to pay, which I knew immediately when I did it, but we can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon,” — Donald Trump
- “Successful end, to me, means we have to have assurances that there will never be a nuclear program in Iran,” — Ashley Hinson
What’s Next
President Trump will speak in Dubuque on November 1, followed by Iowa voters casting ballots on November 3. The Senate race and other statewide contests will hinge on turnout generated by the president’s final Iowa appearances.