Nearly 10 Million More Voters Cast Ballots Early

Nearly 10 million more Americans had cast ballots five days before the 2026 election than at the same point in 2022, according to an Associated Press analysis of voting data. This surge in early participation coincided with a sudden change in President Donald Trump’s campaign strategy.

Trump originally planned a series of phone rallies to reach voters nationwide while conserving energy. He canceled in-person events in Iowa and Kansas, opting instead for what the Republican National Committee called a 72-hour sprint of telerallies. However, the president reversed those decisions after receiving calls from political allies in both states.

“They said, ‘if you can go, you would be better than a telerally,’” Trump said. The final schedule places him in Dubuque, Iowa, and Salina, Kansas, on Sunday for back-to-back in-person appearances. The location for the Iowa stop shifted from Cedar Rapids back to Dubuque just hours before the event.

The added energy comes as both parties compete for control of the Senate. Early voting in Iowa and Kansas is up roughly 30% compared to the 2022 cycle. In Texas, more than 6.3 million residents voted early by Wednesday, a 50% increase over the same period four years ago. South Carolina, which is electing a successor to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, saw an 83% rise in advance voting.

Trump defended his health and schedule on Thursday, rejecting reports that fatigue prompted the initial cancellations. “I feel perfect,” he told reporters. He also praised Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas, calling him fantastic and crediting him for pushing administration policies that benefit the state’s farmers.

The races in Kansas and Iowa are viewed as critical to maintaining the Republican majority in the Senate. Trump has already visited both states this month to support Marshall and Iowa Senate candidate Ashley Hinson. In Kansas, Marshall faces Democrat Adam Hamilton, a Methodist pastor whom Trump called a radical who causes turmoil within the church.

The voting surge has intensified the fight over affordability and the president’s unpopularity. Democrats and Republicans both argue the increased turnout favors their side. The final weeks of the campaign now center on driving turnout in these key swing states before the November deadline.