Trump in Iowa: A Turek Win Means 'Open Borders Again'

President Donald Trump used one of his last campaign stops before Tuesday’s midterm elections to make a blunt case to Iowa voters: keep the state’s open U.S. Senate seat in Republican hands or, in his words, expect the border to swing open again.

Trump rallied supporters Sunday at the Five Flags Event Center in Dubuque on behalf of Rep. Ashley Hinson, the Republican Senate nominee, according to the Associated Press. Hinson faces Democrat Josh Turek in a race Election Central describes as Iowa’s open Senate contest, with a competitive governor’s race and several important House races also on the ballot.

Iowa's next governor, @ZachLahn, joins President Trump and Senate nominee Ashley Hinson in Dubuque: "Just as the president supported Iowa, we have to go out and show that we are dedicated to the next generation. That we are not gonna let this place fall to socialism, communism,… pic.twitter.com/lVZg888Mw7

— Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) November 1, 2026

“Open borders again”

In a clip from the rally posted by the Republican National Committee’s official account, Trump argued that Democrats “allowed 25 million people to pour across our borders from all over the world.” He then turned to the Senate race, telling the crowd, “If Josh Turek wins this race…you’re gonna have open borders again.”

The line framed the race the way Republicans have tried to frame much of the midterm map in its closing days: as a referendum on immigration enforcement and on whether a Democratic Senate would roll back the administration’s border policies.

A rally that almost didn’t happen

The Dubuque stop nearly fell off the calendar. Election Central reported that both the Iowa rally and a second Sunday event in Salina, Kansas, were canceled Thursday before being restored to the president’s schedule on Friday. The Guardian likewise reported that the initial cancellations had raised questions about whether Trump would campaign in person through the final weekend, before he reversed course and rescheduled both events along with a long slate of tele-rallies.

According to Election Central, Sunday’s Dubuque appearance followed Trump’s Oct. 22 rally in Sioux City. The AP reported that the president is closing out the campaign with rallies in two states he has carried comfortably in the past, as Republicans work to keep their hold on Congress.

The Guardian reported that the president was briefly interrupted by protesters during his remarks, and AP images show police and security escorting a protester out while Trump spoke.

From Dubuque, Trump was scheduled to head to Salina to campaign for Sen. Roger Marshall and other Kansas Republicans, according to Election Central.

What’s at stake

Iowa has trended Republican for a decade, but Election Central reported that the state now features an open Senate seat, a competitive governor’s contest and several important House races, making it one of the places the GOP is spending its final hours defending. Trump’s decision to restore the Dubuque stop signals that the White House sees Hinson’s race as one it cannot take for granted.

Polls close Tuesday night. Daily Beltway will have results as they come in.

Sources

• AP News: Trump stops in Iowa and Kansas as GOP vies to keep hold of Congress
• The Guardian: Trump takes stage in Iowa in final push before Election Day
• Election Central: Trump rallies in Iowa and Kansas on final Sunday before Election Day
• @Republicans on X: Trump rally clip from Dubuque

Reporting by Daily Beltway.