President Trump covered a lot of ground this week, holding rallies in Alaska, Arizona, and Montana within a 48-hour stretch. Speaking from the Rose Garden on Thursday, he said the crowds have been energizing his campaign and argued his presence on the trail makes a real difference for Republican turnout. More stops are already lined up in Ohio, Texas, Georgia, and Kentucky.
The Montana rally raised questions, since Trump carried the state by about 20 points in 2024. He told reporters the stop was about thanking voters and boosting local candidates, but it also fuels the debate over whether these red-state rallies are about playing offense or protecting safe ground. Trump also repeated his claim that GOP turnout drops 49% when he is not on the ballot, a number that will be tested in November.
For Suncoast voters, the midterms matter locally too, from congressional seats to state races that shape hurricane recovery funding and coastal policy. Rallies make headlines, but the down-ballot choices are the ones closest to home.
What do you think: do presidential rallies still energize voters in a midterm year, or is the real action at the local level?
