Trump Campaigns in Alaska Amid Midterm Election Concerns

President Donald Trump traveled to Wasilla, Alaska, on October 13 to headline a campaign rally for Republican incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan. The visit is part of a broader western swing including stops in Arizona and Montana as the GOP seeks to retain congressional control ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. Trump also campaigned for Republican Representative Nick Begich.

Republicans are concerned about Sullivan's reelection bid against Democrat Mary Peltola, who has raised $17 million in the third quarter. The race is complicated by Alaska's ranked-choice voting system and the presence of a second candidate named Dan Sullivan, whom Trump allies describe as a sham candidate. Additionally, inflation, high gasoline prices linked to the war in Iran, and a trade war with Canada involving tariffs and import bans have eroded the president's popularity in the state.

While Trump focused on Alaska, Vice President JD Vance campaigned for Attorney General Ken Paxton in Texas. Vance acknowledged that Republicans are swimming upstream in this cycle, though House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed confidence that the party will buck historical midterm trends.

Simultaneously, the White House announced that Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle was asked to resign following ethics allegations. On foreign policy, Trump stated the U.S. will not conduct strikes against Iran until after the midterms, despite reports that Iran is fortifying nuclear sites.