RismadarVoice Reporters
October 4, 2026
United States President Donald Trump has predicted that Republicans will outperform expectations in the November 3 midterm elections, telling supporters in Ohio that the party could deliver a “big surprise.”
Trump made the remarks on Saturday during a campaign rally in Vandalia, near Dayton, where he sought support for Republican Senator Jon Husted and the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Vivek Ramaswamy.
“I think we’re going to have a big surprise,” Trump told supporters as he urged Republican voters to turn out for the election.
The midterms will determine control of the US House of Representatives and Senate, with several closely contested races expected to play significant roles in the outcome.
Ohio has emerged as one of the key Senate battlegrounds, with Husted facing former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown.
Husted was appointed to fill the Senate seat vacated by JD Vance after Vance became vice president and is now seeking to retain the seat through election.
Trump urged his supporters to vote for Husted, arguing that strong Republican turnout would be crucial to the senator’s chances.
The president acknowledged concerns within the Republican Party that some voters who turn out when he is personally on the ballot may be less likely to participate during midterm elections.
Trump won Ohio in the 2024 presidential election, but the competitiveness of the current Senate race has increased Republican efforts to mobilise his supporters ahead of November 3.
The president also campaigned for Ramaswamy, who is contesting the Ohio governorship against Democratic candidate Amy Acton, a physician and former state health director.
Both contests have attracted national attention as Republicans and Democrats compete for control of key elected offices.
Trump also used the rally to defend the expansion of artificial intelligence data centres in Ohio, an issue that has become contentious because of concerns about electricity costs, infrastructure and their impact on local communities.
Husted has promoted legislation aimed at addressing electricity costs associated with large data centres, but the measure recently failed to advance in the US Senate.
Brown and other Democrats have criticised Husted over his record on data-centre development, while Republicans have accused Democrats of blocking efforts they say would protect electricity consumers.
Economic issues, including the cost of living and fuel prices, have also become prominent in the Ohio campaign.
Despite the competitive political environment, Trump maintained that Republicans could perform better than expected if their supporters turned out in large numbers.
His prediction remains a campaign assertion, with the outcome to be determined by voters in the November 3 midterm elections.
