Early Ballots Run 10 Million Above 2022 Pace as Trump Reschedules Iowa and Kansas Rallies

Nearly 10 million more Americans had cast ballots five days before Election Day than at the same point in the 2022 midterms, according to an Associated Press analysis of voting data. Early voting is up roughly 30% in Iowa and Kansas, states with competitive Senate races, and more than 30% above the same point four years ago in Maine, Michigan and North Carolina. In Texas, 6.3 million voters had cast ballots as of Wednesday, compared with 4.2 million at that point in 2020. South Carolina, which is choosing a successor to the late Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, recorded an 83% increase in early voting.

President Donald Trump restored weekend rallies in Iowa and Kansas less than 24 hours after canceling them. He told a Kansas City radio station he received calls from people in both states who wanted in-person events. "They said, 'If you can go, you would be better than a tele-rally,'" Trump said. He landed in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Friday night and headlined 25 rallies in October. The Kansas event supports Sen. Roger Marshall against Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton, a Methodist pastor. The Iowa event backs House member Ashley Hinson.

U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman in Alaska confirmed a federal investigation into a candidate listed on the ballot alongside Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. The probe has run for months. Law enforcement resources moved into the state this week after The New York Times reported that Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola's campaign appeared to recruit Dan J. Sullivan, who shares the incumbent's name. Peltola denied knowledge of the effort on Thursday. The Justice Department said it wants to isolate ballots ranking Dan J. Sullivan to measure voter confusion.

In Michigan, Rep. Haley Stevens appeared on CNN to say she would vote for Abdul El-Sayed, the progressive who beat her narrowly in the August primary, while asking him to rebuild ties with Jewish and Black voters. Her fiance said hours earlier he would vote for Republican Mike Rogers. Stevens agreed to campaign with El-Sayed and Rep. Jim Clyburn in Detroit on Sunday, then posted a statement Friday criticizing him over an advertisement linking U.S. support for Israel to grocery prices. "Abdul promises to get money out of politics," Stevens wrote. "He can begin by getting Israel out of his explanation for everything Michigan cannot afford." El-Sayed said in a statement Friday that while Stevens "seems intent on relitigating a primary," the focus should be "beating Mike Rogers."

Both parties are directing resources toward turnout ahead of Nov. 3. Republicans have raised concerns about voter dissatisfaction with Trump and high costs affecting participation, issues Democrats have pressed in their campaigns. Trump promised at the start of October to hold a run of his signature rallies to support Republican candidates. He has not campaigned in Iowa or Kansas since earlier this month. Elections officials in Texas reported 6.3 million early votes as of Wednesday.