President Trump is set to headline a rally in Wichita next Monday, the Republican National Committee announced Tuesday, as the Kansas Senate race becomes increasingly competitive. The visit underscores the GOP's growing concern about holding the seat of Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.).
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the contest as a "toss-up," though it still gives Marshall an 8-point edge. However, a New York Times/Siena College poll released earlier this month showed Marshall deadlocked with his Democratic challenger, Adam Hamilton.
Republicans are not taking any chances. The Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC aligned with GOP Senate leadership, is investing $14 million to bolster Marshall's campaign—a clear sign that national Republicans view the race as a priority.
Trump's rally in Wichita is the latest indication that the party is devoting more attention to Kansas, a state that has traditionally leaned Republican but is now showing signs of a tighter race. The president's involvement could energize the base, but it also risks nationalizing the contest in a way that might motivate Democratic turnout.
In addition to the Kansas stop, the RNC announced that Trump will travel to Greenville, N.C., on Tuesday to campaign for Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley, who is trailing former Gov. Roy Cooper (D). Trump told reporters last week that he is worried about Whatley's chances.
"I hope he wins. He was a great leader for the whole Republican Party when I won, and he'd be a great senator," the president said.
The dual trips highlight the GOP's defensive posture in key Senate battlegrounds. With the chamber narrowly divided, every seat matters, and Republicans are deploying their most powerful surrogate to shore up support where polls have narrowed.
Democrats, meanwhile, are likely to seize on Trump's involvement to argue that Marshall is beholden to national interests rather than Kansas voters. Hamilton's campaign has not yet responded to the rally announcement, but the tied poll suggests the race is already a dead heat.
As the campaign intensifies, both parties will be watching Kansas closely. The outcome could determine control of the Senate—and Trump's rally is a clear signal that Republicans are not ceding the state without a fight.
