Trump won Iowa by 13 points, but Republicans are on defense heading into November

In northeast Iowa, local Republicans and Democrats are framing the Nov. 3 election around shifting rural politics after Donald Trump carried Iowa by 13 points in 2024. Dave Roethler, a school custodian, says Trump did well in his first term but now believes middle-class families are bearing the costs while Trump benefits. He plans to support Democrats this November, citing concerns over tariffs disrupting agriculture and rising fuel prices, including diesel topping $6 a gallon. The article highlights Democrats’ push to narrow losses in rural counties, while Republicans respond by increasing spending and holding rallies—Trump is set to return to Iowa twice. In neighboring New Hampton, Bill Stonecypher and Deb Thorne describe turning away from Trump, reflecting broader Republican erosion.