Iowa Politics with Jeff Stein -- Thu. Oct. 22, 2026

The president back in Iowa.

I'm Jeff Stein with today's Iowa Politics Report.

President Donald Trump will be back in Iowa today, this time in Sioux City.

The location is smart, hooking folks from Iowa, South Dakota and Nebraska in a single rally.

That's pretty red territory, you might think.

So why is the president going there?

Are things there that bad for Republicans?

Well, actually, that's not it.

And the strategy, although nuanced, does make sense.

There are people who don't show up to vote unless Trump is on the ballot.

This election will be about turnout, who turns out more of their people and picks up more independent voters.

So Trump is coming to red areas of the country to fire up his base.

Again, Trumpicans, who aren't necessarily Republicans,

but they'll respond to him and his request to vote.

They are absolutely needed in order for the GOP to win this fall.

The party also needs other Republicans, including ones who have never been sold on Trump, but believe in their party identification.

They don't care if Trump is around.

They care about the candidates with an R by their names.

The state party can worry about turning those folks out.

To get enough independent or no party voters to vote Republican, the candidate himself or herself has to make the sale.

That's why so many on both sides proudly boast how bipartisan they are when it comes to getting things done, because that appeals to independence.

Now, it's certainly not a normal strategy, but this is not a normal election year.

The Trump message may not resonate beyond his target audience.

But that's fine.

The party loyalty message won't resonate beyond that target audience.

But again, that's fine.

And trying to draw enough independence without alienating your base?

Well, that's what candidates always do.

Now, if they pull it off, it's brilliant.

For now, though, it's the best they have.

So they're running with it full force.

And that's the Iowa Politics Report for Thursday, October 22 on Twitter, Instagram, Gitter, Threads and Truth Social at Iowa Politics.

I'm Jeff Stein on News Talk 1540, KXEL.