Key things to watch as Republicans gather in Dallas for Trump’s midterm convention

DALLAS, TEXAS: This week, Republicans are gathering in Dallas for a two-day convention that President Donald Trump has crafted to energize support before the November midterms, an unprecedented move for a party that has never hosted such a large-scale event in a midterm year.

The Democrats held a similar midterm convention in the 1970s and 1980s, but the Republicans have never done so, and Trump has promised it will be “a rally like none other,” including a balloon drop at the end.

Why did Trump want this?

Trump has said he wanted to channel the kind of political extravaganza that each party holds every four years to formally nominate a presidential candidate and showcase their vision for the country. There's even going to be a huge drop of balloons at the end.

Trump had long floated the idea of holding such a convention, and Republicans worked to make his wish a reality.

Midterms are often difficult for the party in power in Washington, and Trump believes the event can juice enthusiasm for the party and boost turnout among his voters.

"Pretend, please, that I'm on the ballot," Trump said recently in South Carolina. "Just come and vote."

Republicans said the event will help catapult its candidates into November, but it will also showcase the first two years of Trump's term. Although the president's poll numbers are sagging, he insists that running on his record will give Republicans their best shot at winning.

Who's actually showing up?

Unlike the usual nominating convention, Dallas will not see any nominations, since the primaries have already decided those races.

The event is also open to the public, giving it more of a rally feel than a formal party gathering. More than 100 Republican House members and candidates are expected to attend, said a person familiar with the planning, who added that people attending will have to pay $25,000 for tickets and lodging, a cost described as typical for political conventions.

Some lawmakers in competitive districts had yet to commit to attending, or were signaling they’d skip the event entirely less than a week before it begins, a sign of the tightrope many Republicans are walking this cycle between embracing Trump and keeping him at arm’s length.

A packed speaking lineup

Trump will speak each night. On Wednesday, he's delivering a keynote address. On Thursday, he's scheduled to appear again after a speech from Vice President JD Vance.

A long list of speakers includes members of Trump's Cabinet like Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Also set to address the crowd are Attorney General Todd Blanche, the president's son Donald Trump Jr and former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, as well as 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 giving speeches, as are many incumbents and candidates in some key, competitive races for the House and Senate around the country.

The event has been designed with over 50 presenters and/or speakers every evening. All of these are deliberately short, which will be ideal for Livestreaming and Social Media Videos.

Additionally, there will also be everyday American voices sharing how they believe they have benefited from President Donald Trump's policy decisions.

The Paxton spotlight and Trump's message

The party's candidates will be showcased, including Paxton, the Texas Senate hopeful, whom Trump controversially threw his support behind instead of backing incumbent Sen. John Cornyn.

Despite years of scandals, Paxton won with Trump's backing, giving Democrats an opponent they see as more beatable in an otherwise conservative state. Trump has said one of the focuses for the Texas convention will be Paxton and trying to get him elected, saying "he's a good man."

Focus on policy and immigration issues

In addition to specific candidates, we can expect a more extensive programming on immigration enforcement, the cost of pharmaceuticals, last year's package on taxes and spending, and tariffs, presented with a strong partisan approach attacking the Democrats in the same way as done by Trump who often accuses the Democrats of being communists.