Trump Campaigns in Iowa and Kansas as Ballots Cast

Fifty million Americans have cast ballots ahead of Tuesday's election. President Donald Trump spent the weekend campaigning in Iowa and Kansas, two states that typically favor Republicans but have become competitive battlegrounds.

The race for the U.S. Senate in Kansas pits incumbent Republican Roger Marshall against Democrat Adam Hamilton. Kansas has not sent a Democrat to the Senate for nearly a century. New York Times polling indicates Hamilton holds a five-point lead. Marshall released a closing argument video on Sunday to address criticism of his medical practices. His staff reportedly did not want the video released and feared it might cause more harm than good.

In Iowa, the Senate race is a dead heat. Trump spoke about the physical appearance of Republican candidate Ashley Hinson. He stated, “I knew Ashley for a long time and she was a little bit heavier,” adding that she followed a regimen to get in shape. Trump claimed Hinson asked him not to mention the topic.

Democrats need to win four net seats to regain control of the Senate. Both parties view victories in Iowa and Kansas as valuable for that goal.