Trump rallies in Kansas as farm pain dents GOP midterm enthusiasm
Why it matters: Rising diesel costs, tariffs and immigration raids are straining a key Republican bloc in a state the party usually dominates.
President Donald Trump was set to hold a rally in Kansas on Monday as Republicans tried to shore up voter enthusiasm in a state they typically carry easily. The visit comes with the party pouring money into Senate races in Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa, amid signs that economic stress is weighing on core GOP voters. Kansas farmers say diesel prices are more than $2.50 a gallon above last year, squeezing already thin margins during harvest. Some Republicans also point to damage from Trump’s tariffs, concern over the war with Iran and backlash after immigration raids in western Kansas detained more than 100 people. The pressure is raising questions about turnout as Sen. Roger Marshall faces Democrat Adam Hamilton.