Trump defies midterm odds as he sides with Republicans in Ohio | News 2026 US midterm elections

Trump told a rally in Ohio that he thought there would be a “big surprise” in the next election.

US President Donald Trump continued his support for Republican candidates during his visit to Ohio, offering a provocative view of his party’s chances in the November 3 midterm elections.

Trump told a rally in Vandalia, Ohio, that he believed there would be a “big surprise” in the upcoming election, saying his Democratic opponents didn’t know what was happening.

Polls suggest Democrats could gain ground in the midterms, but the US president said Republicans would do better than critics predicted.

“Get out and vote,” Trump said, rallying behind U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and other Republicans.

“If you do this, we’re going to win, and we’re going to win big,” he said.

The Senate race in Ohio

Several incumbent Republican senators across the country are facing political headwinds, as Trump’s popularity has plummeted in recent months as rising prices for gasoline and other commodities persist amid the U.S. war with Israel and against Iran.

Husted, a Republican in a competitive race in Ohio against Democrat Sherrod Brown, hopes the president can motivate his supporters who might otherwise skip the midterm elections.

Trump captured more than 55% of the vote in Ohio in the 2024 presidential election, but economic concerns have since caused his approval rating to plummet.

Gasoline prices in Ohio have increased 35 percent over the past year, to $4.16 per gallon (3.8 liters) on average, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA), which compiles automobile travel data. Trump’s trade policy with Canada has also led to retaliatory Canadian tariffs that affect about $3 billion in Ohio exports, based on 2025 figures, Canadian broadcaster CBC reported.

Speaking to reporters shortly before addressing Saturday’s rally, Husted said the United States must win the war in Iran “on our terms” and, in the meantime, he was “showing people that I’m fighting for lower prices.”

Burning political issue

Trump heavily promoted his administration’s action on data centers, primarily those built for AI, at the rally, saying he sought to ensure they “benefit local communities” and praising Husted for his unsuccessful attempt to advance legislation on the issue.

“Look, there’s so much money to be made for Ohio. You can’t just turn them off. They’ll go to China,” he said, reiterating his defense of data centers.

Data centers have become a hot political issue, attracting bipartisan opposition in elections across the country as voters are concerned about their impact on electricity prices, farmland and water supplies.

The problem has become particularly acute in Ohio, where Husted has been repeatedly attacked for his role in attracting data centers to the Midwestern state as lieutenant governor.

The Republican-controlled Senate last week tried to advance legislation sponsored by Husted that would direct utility regulators to charge large electricity users more as consumers grapple with high energy costs. But this proposal was blocked by almost all Democrats.

“Senator Jon Husted gave billions in tax breaks to big tech companies to ensure they build their data centers in Ohio,” Brown wrote on X on Friday, ahead of Trump’s visit. “Now he’s making Ohioans foot the bill.”