Iowa has become a major midterm battleground, with consequential House, Senate, and gubernatorial contests approaching. Yet Republicans in Scott County told Fox News Digital that media predictions of a Democratic “blue wave” do not match what they are seeing locally.

Fox News Digital spoke with candidates and party officials during a Scott County Republican Party event near downtown Davenport in early October. Conservatives had gathered to watch the first gubernatorial debate, one month before the midterm election.

The conversations focused on whether concerns about President Donald Trump’s economy, gas prices, and the war in Iran were pushing Iowa voters toward Democrats. Local Republicans acknowledged voter frustration, but they remained skeptical that it would translate into a sweeping Democratic victory.

Iowa Republicans are pushing back hard on the media's 'blue wave' narrative — and they say the proof is at the front door.

Fox News Digital spoke with local GOP candidates in Scott County who say door-knocking across Davenport reveals almost zero enthusiasm for Democrats heading into the midterms. Greg Guy, running for county treasurer, says out of every 40 doors he knocks on, maybe one person pushes back. His Democratic neighbor who runs local canvassing operations? Even that camp doesn't look excited to vote, Guy says. Full story here https://t.co/HT6qyhQI1q — Fox News Politics (@foxnewspolitics) October 13, 2026

Greg Guy, the Republican candidate for Scott County treasurer, said Iowans are concerned about gas prices. However, he believes voters understand that the higher costs are likely temporary and will ease after the war in Iran winds down.

Gold. Upgraded. Buy real gold from $1. Store it in America. Sell it with one click.

“Surprisingly not,” Guy said when asked whether he believes a blue wave is imminent. His campaign, he said, is focused on doing “what’s right” and “taking care” of the community.

Guy also pointed to what he has encountered while knocking on doors across the county. “My neighbor is one of the big people in charge of the canvassing for the Democrat Party. I don't see where they're excited to vote,” he said.

“I mean, if I talk to a hundred doors and 30 to 40% will open up, I might get one out of 40. That's a hater, and then I'll just tell them, hey, I know you're not going to vote for me, but when I'm treasurer, and you have a problem, you can still call me,” Guy continued.

Davenport has about 100,000 residents and sits along the Mississippi River in southeast Iowa. The city is a Democratic leaning urban pocket within a state that has increasingly favored Republicans.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

Trump carried Scott County by roughly four points in 2024, winning 51% to 47%. Former Vice President Kamala Harris nevertheless carried Davenport’s congressional district precincts overall, demonstrating the city’s competitive political profile.

Trump won Iowa by about 13 points in 2024, while Republicans control the governor’s office and both chambers of the state legislature. Scott County includes urban Democrats, suburban swing voters and conservative rural communities, making it an important test of Republican strength in eastern Iowa.

Cynthia Mensendick, a registered nurse running for the Iowa State Senate in District 49, rejected the idea that frustrated conservatives view Democratic control of Congress as the answer. “No, not at all,” she said.

“The concern is that there will be a Democrat governor because if you look at any state where a Democrat takes over, they immediately increase spending,” Mensendick said. When asked whether a blue wave was approaching Iowa in November, she added, “I’m not seeing that.”

Mensendick’s campaign is focused on healthcare and Iowa’s high cancer rate. She said a leading concern among Republican voters is that Iowa could become like Illinois if Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand wins.

Republicans still face a difficult political environment in Iowa, where polling shows Democrats gaining momentum in gubernatorial, Senate and congressional races. The GOP also faces the historical challenges confronting the party in power during midterm elections.

NEW INFOGRAPHIC: Historic Senate polling error 33 days out in Iowa, Michigan, and Ohio.

93% of polls overstated the Democrat D+6.2 average miss 33 days out D+6.6 average miss 33 days out in midterms https://t.co/0LDYYI9svD — Patrick Ruffini (@PatrickRuffini) October 1, 2026

Still, Republicans gathered in Scott County remained optimistic about their chances. Iowa’s shift toward Republicans in recent years has helped fuel confidence that voters will not simply hand power back to Democrats.

Dillon Fillion, 22, is the youngest candidate in Scott County history and is running for the Iowa House of Representatives in District 81. He framed the election as a choice between two sharply different parties.

“I think people have got to weigh the options here; they either have an option of voting for socialist candidates like Abdul El-Sayed, who is a pronounced communist and supports all the things that Lenin supports, which led the Soviet Union into the downfall that it went to, or they have the support of supporting Republicans who were actually serious about cutting their taxes, which cut their taxes in 2025 with the One Big Beautiful Bill,” Fillion said.

Kurt Whalen, the Scott County Iowa GOP Vice Chair, acknowledged that Republicans have frustrations about the state of affairs. He nevertheless said the stakes are too high for GOP voters to remain on the sidelines.

“I think people are still fired up for the Republican cause. I mean, we are a big tent party. There's people that absolutely love Trump, there’s people that don’t care for him. But the reality is, Trump's been an overwhelming force for good in our country,” Whalen said.

WATCH:

Gold is the oldest answer. SoundMoney makes owning it as easy as the apps you already use.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.