President Trump hit the campaign trail in Iowa on Tuesday, marking the first of many stops ahead of November\u2019s midterm elections. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking to supporters at a rally just outside of Des Moines, Trump touted what he said were economic gains made during his second administration and continued to blame former President Biden for the economy and the state of the border when he took office last year, reiterating much of his past criticisms of his predecessor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTwelve months ago Joe Biden\u2002<\/u><\/a>handed us a mess,\u201d Trump said. \u201cBut today, just after one year of President Trump, our economy is booming, incomes are rising, investment is soaring, inflation has been defeated, our border is closed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trump has won Iowa three times going back to his first presidential run in 2016, but the state is home to a number of competitive races in November. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates Iowa\u2019s open gubernatorial race as \u201clean Republican,\u201d while its open Senate race is considered \u201clikely Republican.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The races for a number of Iowa\u2019s House seats are more competitive, with Cook rating the seats held by incumbent Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks\u2002<\/u><\/a>(R-Iowa) and Zach Nunn\u2002<\/u><\/a>(R-Iowa) as \u201ctoss-ups.\u201d The seat held by Rep. Ashley Hinson\u2002<\/u><\/a>(R-Iowa), who is running for the state\u2019s Senate seat, is labeled \u201clikely Republican.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou got to get out there and vote,\u201d Trump urged the crowd. \u201cWe have really great candidates, again Senate and House.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the speech was filled with Trump\u2019s usual attack lines against his political opponents, the president sought to tout what he said were his administration\u2019s achievements in the state, including abolishing the electric vehicle mandate and supporting E-15 fuel blends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Trump also touted his health care proposal, his no taxes on tips plan, and his executive order that intends to ban large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The rally in Iowa comes as Trump faces a tough news week following the shooting death of Alex Pretti at the hands of federal agents in Minnesota over the weekend. The initial response to the shooting from the administration resulted in backlash from both sides of the aisle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Iowa rally also gave Trump an opening to talk about something other than the turmoil in Minneapolis, including the accomplishments he sees on the economy, the border and in polls. However, polling shows Trump and Republicans face an uphill climb in messaging on his handling of the economy to voters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n