Republicans are heading to Dallas this week for a two-day event conceived by President Donald Trump to energize his base prior to the upcoming midterm elections.
Trump said he intended to recreate the scale of traditional quadrennial conventions, where political parties present their vision for the nation and officially select a presidential candidate. The gathering will even feature a large-scale balloon drop at its close.
Although Democrats organized midterm conventions in the 1970s and 1980s, this is the first time Republicans have staged one. These are the key questions ahead of the rally:
Can a Trump-style convention save Republicans from a midterm blowout?
For some time, Trump suggested hosting this type of convention, a proposal his fellow Republicans eagerly turned into a tangible event.
Midterm elections traditionally challenge the party in power in Washington. Trump expects this gathering to energize supporters and drive his base to the polls.
"Pretend, please, that I’m on the ballot," Trump said recently in South Carolina. "Just come and vote."
Party members claim the convention will propel conservative contenders into November while highlighting the achievements of Trump's first two years. Even with sagging approval ratings, the president maintains that campaigning on his record offers Republicans their highest chance of victory.
Is the GOP hosting a true political convention or just a massive Trump rally?
Every four years, presidential nominating conventions hosted by both Republicans and Democrats typically bring together thousands of rank-and-file party members, who serve as delegates to represent their home states in the formal candidate selection process.
No nominations will be awarded at this gathering, however, as the primary contests have already settled the outcome. Because the event is open to the public, it could feel more like a Trump rally than a convention.
More than 100 Republican House members and candidates are expected to gather in Dallas, according to a person familiar with the arrangements who asked to remain anonymous before the event begins. Attendees must pay $25,000 for admission and lodging, which the source described as standard for political conventions.
Meanwhile, several lawmakers facing competitive races have stated they will not attend or remain undecided less than a week before the convention.
Who is taking the stage?
Trump is scheduled to speak every evening, giving a keynote address on Wednesday and returning to the stage Thursday following a speech by Vice President JD Vance.
The expansive roster includes Cabinet members such as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, as well as Attorney General Todd Blanche. Addresses will also be delivered by the president’s son Donald Trump Jr., former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxon, and Mike Rogers, the party’s Senate nominee in Michigan.
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz are slated to speak, alongside numerous incumbents and contenders running in critical, competitive House and Senate races nationwide.
Everyday Americans will also offer remarks, sharing personal accounts of how they have gained from the president’s policies.
Organizers plan for as many as 50 speakers or presentations each night, keeping speeches concise to maintain a rapid pace suited for viewers and online sharing. Trump has teased "lots of Great Entertainment" and described the event as "a RALLY like none other."
Can tax cuts, border crackdowns, and fierce partisan attacks propel conservative candidates?
The party’s slate of candidates will take center stage, featuring Texas Senate contender Paxton, who secured Trump’s contentious endorsement over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn. Despite enduring years of scandals, Paxton prevailed with Trump’s backing, offering Democrats a rival they view as more vulnerable in an otherwise conservative state. Trump stated that helping Paxton win election remains a primary focus of the Texas convention, calling him "he’s a good man."
However, the convention program concentrates heavily on Trump’s broader agenda, highlighting his immigration crackdown, efforts to reduce prescription drug costs, last year’s broad tax cuts and spending legislation, and trade tariffs.
The schedule also presents a partisan argument against Democrats, with speakers anticipated to mirror Trump’s rhetorical attacks that frame Democrats as communists.
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