Live updates: Vance stumps in Iowa as races tighten; Trump sets up healthcare announcement

Vice President JD Vance is set to visit Iowa for the second time this year, aiming to bolster Republican majorities in Congress and chart his own political path. On Friday, he will headline a midterm rally in Council Bluffs, a western stronghold of the once-dominant state. This is a critical year for Iowa, as the state faces competitive races for the Senate and governor's office.

Josh Turek, the Democratic nominee for Senate, represents the Council Bluffs area in the Statehouse. However, his opponent, Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, will not be present at the rally due to prior commitments. Zach Lahn, the Republican candidate for governor, will attend the event. He is in a tight race against Democrat Rob Sand, the state auditor and a prominent party contender.

Vance previously visited Iowa in May, supporting Rep. Zach Nunn, one of the party's most vulnerable incumbents. Nunn and Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, another Republican from Iowa, participated in a symbolic vote to halt the war in Iran, highlighting how this conflict is causing political challenges for the party. At the May event, Vance praised the administration's tax and tariff policies at a steel manufacturing site and cautioned that this year's election would not be ordinary.

Vance has been a prominent surrogate on the midterm campaign trail, visiting states like Kansas, Wisconsin, and his home of Ohio to promote Republican candidates and the administration's accomplishments. The rally's location is in Iowa's 4th Congressional District, which is vacant after Rep. Randy Feenstra's unsuccessful bid for governor. The district will be contested between Democrat Dave Dawson and Republican Chris McGowan.